Guyana Chronicle E-paper 11-27-2018

TUESDAY 27th November, 2018

No.105471

Budget Measures: See stories on pages 14,16,17,19

Income tax threshold moves to $65,000

New minimum wage now $64,000 Reduction in corporate tax for manufacturing

Budget at

$300.7B ‌growth rate pegged at 3.4 %

PAGE

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‌livestock, construction, rice sectors on the upswing

Duty-free vehicle for persons with disabilities Old Age Pension, Public Assistance increased

Finance Minister, Winston Jordan delivering his budget presentation in the National Assembly Monday afternoon (Samuel Maughn photo)

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

By Lisa Hamilton, Vishani Ragobeer

Georgetown, and which is set to commence in 2019 as part of the soon-to-be-introduced Safe City Solution.

The cameras will feed into a command centre that will be established for the Guyana Police Force (GPF). “We have cameras around town now, but we’ll be having an additional 100 in and around the hot spots in the city, so that we’ll focus in a very multidimensional way… [on] crime and traffic because traffic, when you breach it, is also a crime. So, it is for that and also for a deterring effect on those who like to commit these crimes,” Ramjattan remarked.

Speaking generally on the budget, Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings said: “I think the budget is really a citizencentered budget [because] each citizen will benefit from this budget.” According to her, the budget seeks to allay the concerns of many Guyanese, while simultaneously going the extra mile to ensure that a ‘good life’ is ensured for all.

In so doing, she noted that the budget took aim at catering for the improvement of health services countrywide. “[This budget] shows the political commitment of our government, to show that in health we have equitable governance and we link the hinterland to the coastland in terms of the distribution of healthcare which is affordable for all,” she explained.

About the sector areas of which she has oversight, the minister noted that the budget addresses preparedness in relation to natural disasters, looking after the vulnerable and ensuring that hinterland communities also have equal access to services.

Of key importance is the concerted effort being placed on curbing maternal deaths and promoting good mental health. According to Minister Cummings, the government is making every effort to ensure that maternal and neonatal mortality is reduced, since this is a huge bugbear- particularly in the hinterland. To address this, she directed focus to Minister Jordan’s announcement that ‘waiting homes’ will be estab-

Gov’t ministers hail budget as transformational

COMING out of the presentation of Budget 2019 pegged the highest ever at $300.7B, several ministers of government were proud to throw their support behind the allocations that spread across a vast array of sectors.

On the Parliament corridors on Monday evening, they also pinpointed areas within their ministries which, with the push of greater finances, will receive the additional attention they need.

Senior and Junior Ministers of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson and Annette Ferguson, both expressed their excitement to begin and continue addressing the infrastructural projects highlighted in the estimates.

“We’re absolutely pleased with it because most of my key target areas have been given significant increase,” Patterson said, naming as an example the $2.9B budget for roads, an increase of 36.3 per cent.

He also highlighted the allocations to the Linden to Lethem road; the roads between Wisroc and Mile Zero; the all-weather transportation road corridor from Parika to Bartica, as well as other street lighting and drainage projects.

“I would be able to do a lot more next year for various communities and that was one of the issues we heard when we were [campaigning for] Local Government Elections,” he said.

EVERYONE REPRESENTED Meanwhile, Ferguson commented: “Budget 2019 has great prospects not only for the public servants or the teachers; it also captures the elderly, the less fortunate, the vulnerable and youths. I’m happy that provisions are there for the youths, so I want to make this appeal to young people that if you have

Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan

Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr. Karen Cummings

initiatives and ideas, with Budget 2019 you should make full use of it. “I am excited that for public infrastructure we would have gotten 23 per cent more than last year, so in 2019 we would be doing more than what we would have done in 2018.”

HIGHER TAXES FOR TOBACCO In his presentation to the House, Finance Minister Winston Jordan had announced that there will be an increase on the taxes and duties on cigarettes in Guyana.

The move comes at the background of the recently established Tobacco Control Act, which takes effect in 2019, aims to protect present and future generations from the harms of and exposure to tobacco smoke.

Junior Minister of Public Infrastructure Annette Ferguson

Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan

On the sidelines, he told the newspaper that another strong motivator of the tax increase is, to deter persons from smuggling tobacco to Guyana from neighbouring countries.

“Demerara Tobacco Limited is complaining that they have to pay all the taxes while people are bringing in smuggled cigarettes. So, we had to find another mechanism of stopping smuggling beyond just trying to catch them [smugglers], when they’re coming through Suriname and so forth,” Jordan said.

Where, for 2019, the Government has increased minimum wage for public servants to $64,200 per month along with several tax exemptions catering for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs); remigrants and others, the finance minister said: “Now that we don’t have to cater for GuySuCo with these heavy transfers…we can use the space now to give back a little bit here and there, by giving some to the pensioners; giving some to the workers [and] to teachers who got a bit more than the regular public servants. “We’ve removed VAT in various areas to help

Finance Minister Winston Jordan (Delano Williams photos)

stimulate growth in some areas and in other areas where we feel persons, particularly with disabilities or so on, who are not getting the good life or that same good life we’re trying to see how we can help them out.”

PEOPLE-ORIENTED Meanwhile, Minister of Public Security Khemraj Ramjattan dubbed Budget 2019 as, “an extremely comprehensive set of measures” which will ensure future development in Guyana.

“It is very much people oriented in my opinion because a lot is there for youths, the disabled, the public servants and even business. More specifically in my ministry, more or less, all that I had asked for I’ve gotten,” he said. Some of these that he listed included, the reconstruction of the New Amsterdam Prison; expansion of the Mazaruni Prison Complex and the Lusignan Prison facility and the construction of the new Georgetown Prison.

Added to this, he spoke on the installation of 100 wireless-enabled cameras in and around

lished to cater for high-risk patients so that deaths of mothers and patients can be prevented.

And, as it relates to mental health, she shared that she is especially pleased that there will be greater collaboration between the health and education ministries. “We have issues in the home like domestic violence and abuse, and even though they don’t speak out much, indirectly children are affected,” she posited.

Through the mechanism, it is the government’s hope that more psycho-social support can be provided to children and young adults, to really focus on improving mental health.

EQUITY AND INCLUSIVITY The 2019 Budget also places great focus on the development of communities in the areas of social cohesion, health, infrastructure and education, which coincide with a portion of the theme ‘Building Sustainable Communities for the Good Life’.

“I am proud of this budget,” said Minister of Communities Ronald Bulkan. “This is a budget that continues to invest in growth and development.

This is a budget that I believe is characterised by equity and inclusivity.”

He noted the many improvements which are expected such as measures to improve water, sanitation and waste management, with $841M for the national solid waste programme and $2.9B for water supply and distribution.

In 2019, $375 M will also be used to equip 20 hinterland communities with ICT hubs, via satellite, benefitting over 11,390 residents while $101M will be used to continue the hinterland electrification programme.

Bulkan said: “All in all there are numerous positive measures and I agree with the Minister’s [Jordan] characterisation that this budget can bare the hashtag ‘Invest in People’, and it continues to invest in the growth and development of our country.”

Budget set at $300.7B

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

FINANCE Minister, Winston Jordan on Monday unveiled a $300.7 billion budget for 2019, which includes a range of measures from the raising of the income tax threshold to increases in Old Age Pension and Public Assistance.

The budget which represents a 12.6 per cent increase over 2018, also announced that the economy is projected to grow by 3.4 per cent this year, a significant improvement on the 2.1 per cent it recorded last year. Themed “Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for the Good Life,” Jordan said the budget presents government with yet another opportunity to highlight its successes and achievements, noting that the government is dedicated to the overall improvement in the quality of life of citizens as represented by a budget “that guarantees equality and inclusivity in resource allocation for all Guyanese.”

He told the House that the target for real growth in the economy for 2018 was 3.8 per cent, but at the end of the first quarter, the outlook for the year was revised to 3.4 per cent, given the lower-than-expected performance in gold and sugar. However, by the end of the first half of the year, economic activity had picked up in several other sectors, resulting in robust half-year growth of 4.5 per cent, and an upward revision of the projected annual growth rate of 3.7 per cent, for 2018. “I wish to report that the latest projection for real growth in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), for 2018, is 3.4 per cent, a significant improvement on the 2.1 per cent recorded in 2017,” Jordan told the House.

He spoke about the benefits of early presentations of the budget- a feature introduced by the coalition government. He said these have been evident in the ability of managers to execute their projects and programmes over the twelve month planning horizon, instead of the truncated year that had become the norm in the not-too-distant past.

SIGNIFICANT YEAR Jordan said 2019 holds special significance for the country from at least three standpoints. First, he said it is the year preceding the observance of the Golden Jubilee of the Republic.

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan in full flow on Budget Day 2018

As such, preparations will begin during 2019 to ensure that this auspicious occasion is celebrated fittingly, in February 2020, when we would get another opportunity to reflect on our journey as a nation, our achievements, our hopes and our aspirations.

Secondly, 2019 is the year preceding General and Regional Elections are constitutionally due. In recognition of this, he said the budget of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) has been almost doubled from its 2018 allocation. This is to facilitate early preparations and to ensure the smooth conduct of these most important elections. From what has been widely considered to be well too executed Local Government Elections.

“I am in no doubt that GECOM will be approaching the task with due diligence and commitment,” Jordan added. Thirdly, 2019 is the year preceding first oil, currently projected to be in the first quarter of 2020. “It is well known that our country is endowed with an abundance of natural resources, with an extensive tropical forest cover of more than 87 per cent of Guyana‘s territory. In spite of these significant assets, economic growth has been highly volatile, low and uneven over the past decades, with geopolitical events, natural and man-made disasters, and global commodity price swings being amongst the contributory factors. In addition, given the economy‘s reliance on primary commodities, there has been little opportunity for diversification.”

Jordan said the discovery of very significant oil reserves has put Guyana at a critical point in its history, providing citizens with the opportunity to shift “our development

path, modernise our economy and transform the lives of our citizens. We are poised for rapid economic expansion, and our government is committed to pursuing economic and social policies conducive to equitable, sustainable and environmentally-friendly growth.”

Jordan said the shaping of the 2019 budget benefitted from input derived from an expanded pool of private sector bodies, non-governmental organisations, civic groups and ordinary citizens. He said this year he undertook several visits to manufacturing and other firms, to get a first-hand look at their operations and to glean a better understanding and appreciation of their challenges and difficulties.

This budget, he said, benefitted from those interactions and the many suggestions proffered for increasing production, boosting exports and improving the business and investment climate.

According to him, in spite of the severe contraction of 25.2 per cent in sugar production, the Agriculture, Fishing and Forestry sector is projected to grow by 1.1 per cent, in 2018, better than the 0.4 per cent growth recorded in 2017. Solid performances are expected to be recorded for livestock, other crops, forestry and rice. Jordan added that with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) now charged with managing the operations of three estates, the viability of our sugar industry has been given a new opportunity with restructured cost profiles. The ongoing recapitalisation of the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt Estates, as part of the Sugar Task Force three-year plan for GuySuCo, is anticipated to result in production in future years rising from a low of 98,000 tonnes by the end of 2018,

to nearly 145,000 tonnes by 2021, Jordan said.

“Mr Speaker, while the sugar industry endeavours to come to terms with the reality of operating in the 21st century, the rice industry continues to make commendable strides.

The introduction by the Guyana Rice Development Board (GRDB) of a new and higher yielding variety – GRDB 15 – in time for the second crop of 2018, as well as improved practices and domestic prices is expected to result in growth of 0.2 per cent in total production for the year.” Jordan said.

Guyana, like many others in the CARICOM region, still grapples with a high food import bill, despite an abundance of fertile soils and water. He said farmers have increased their production of traditional and other non-traditional crops, which has resulted in the volume of exports of fruits and vegetables expanding by 5.9 per cent at the end of the third quarter, when compared with the same period, in 2017.

Growth in the other crops sector is expected to continue to rise in the last quarter, and annual growth for 2018 is projected to reach 5.0 per cent.

LIVESTOCK The livestock sector, Jordan announced too, has rebounded this year, with production as at the end of June growing by 29.1 per cent, when compared with the same period, in 2017. “The absence of chicken shortages, thereby negating the need to issue import licenses thus far, in 2018, testifies to Guyana being on the right path to self-sufficiency in chicken production. Higher beef, pork and mutton production, as a result of better breeds and enhanced practices, also contributed to growth in this sector at mid-year, and are likely to

…projects 3.4 % economic growth

…livestock sector records 29.1% growth lead to similar gains in the second half of the year. As such, the livestock sector is forecasted to grow by 21.1 per cent this year.”

For the fishing industry, Jordan said this sector saw mixed results at the half year mark. However, in spite of the contraction in output of shrimp, tuna and aquaculture, an expansion in total finfish production resulted in a growth in this sector of 5.6 per cent at the end of June.

An increase in the number of artisanal vessels will see finfish production reaching higher levels in 2018, when compared with the previous year, Jordan said, adding that this performance, however, is expected to be overshadowed by declines in production in the other categories of fish.

Overall, it is anticipated that this sector will contract by 1.9 per cent, in 2018.

FORESTRY In forestry, Jordan said growth in this sector is projected to be a disappointing 0.2 per cent, following a promising performance up to September. He blamed this on poor weather conditions affecting the transport network and delayed road maintenance served to constrain further growth of this sector. In 2017, the forestry sector expanded for the first time since this administration took office and revoked some of the lopsided agreements that allowed for the wanton destruction of our pristine forests. “This growth was extended, into 2018, supported by a number of interventions, including Budget 2018 measures and the continued partnership with the private sector. Thus, by end-September, production was 19.3 per cent higher than the same period, in 2017.”

BALANCE OF PAYMENTS Jordan told the House that the deficit on the overall balance of payments is projected to widen to US$180.7 million at the end of 2018, from a deficit of US$69.5 million at the end of 2017.

The current account is expected to deteriorate to a deficit of US$463.8 million in 2018, compared to a deficit of US$297.3 million in the previous year. However, the capital account is anticipated to strengthen to a higher surplus of US$283.0 million, from US$228.0 million, over the same period. “…despite positive prospects for net

current transfers, the current account is expected to weaken due to the worsening of the merchandise trade and services accounts. The position on the merchandise trade account, from a deficit of US$206.6 million, in 2017, to a higher deficit of US$299.7 million, in 2018, is anticipated to result from an increase in total payments for merchandise imports, together with lower total earnings from merchandise exports.” According to Jordan, the latter is projected to decline by 3.1 per cent to US$1,392.1 million, largely on account of lower receipts from gold and sugar exports.

The downturn in gold export earnings is anticipated to be as a result of lower declarations. Lower earnings are also expected from rice exports, which, together with gold and sugar, will not be offset by receipts from all other exports.

Total import payments are forecasted to grow by 2.9 per cent, to US$1,691.8 million, in 2018, largely due to higher payments for fuel and lubricants, and capital goods. The former is expected to increase by 5.7 per cent, driven by higher prices, while the latter is projected to grow by 4.3 per cent. Total payments for consumption goods imported are also estimated to increase by 1.7 per cent.

“Mr. Speaker, the net services deficit is forecasted to expand to US$453.4 million, in 2018, from US$372.3 million, in 2017, due to higher deficits on both the factor and non-factor services accounts.

The weakening of the factor services account by US$33.4 million is expected to result from higher payments as compensation to employees as well as higher interest payments on loans to the public sector, while the worsening of the non-factor account

by US$47.6 million is due to higher freight payments.”

“Mr. Speaker, contrary to the two aforementioned components of the current account, net current transfers are expected to increase to US$289.3 million, in 2018, from US$281.7 million, in 2017, due to lower outflows of remittances to bank accounts abroad. “ Jordan said the balance of payments deficit will be financed by a drawdown of US$104.1 million on the net foreign assets of the Bank of Guyana, debt relief of US$17.9 million, and debt forgiveness of US$58.7 million.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

City Hall hires small contractors –as garbage strike kicks in

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green chairing Monday’s statutory meeting

WITH the City’s two main garbage contractors opt-

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Saturday 24, November, 2018

01 04 08 23 25 27 14

J

ing to pull their services, two small-scale contractors

began working Monday morning, and about two more are expected to come on board later this week.

The Mayor and City Council (M&CC) has hired a new set of contractors to continue garbage collection in Georgetown, even though they claim to have no money at the moment to pay them.

The contractors have reportedly expressed a willingness

to work, notwithstanding the financial constraints plaguing the municipality.

A fifth contractor, however, has opted to pull out of this new arrangement until he can first be paid what he’s owed.

Based on what Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry told this publication on Monday, the two contractors have started to work without signing any contract with the municipality.

According to her, there is a stipulated period in City Hall’s arrangement with the contractors, in which the municipality is expected to pay.

She said a small percentage of what was previously owed them was agreed to be paid to the contractors before they resumed working this time.

Harry told the Guyana Chronicle that at the end of the day on Monday, two of the garbage trucks belonging to the City Council are expected to be in working condition. Repairs are currently being done to the other two, and they are expected to be in use soon, she said, and that by tomorrow, a compactor

05:00hrs. - 06:30hrs.

08, 14, 19, 25, 26

3, 8, 1

7, 6, 9

Councillor Andrea Marks

will be placed at Bourda.

Solid Waste Management Director Walter Narine also told the Guyana Chronicle on Monday that the City Council has not changed the schedule for garbage collection.

He said the Solid Waste Department, along with Group 8, will be clearing all of the commercial areas in the City, which encompass Alberttown, Queenstown, North and South Cumminsgburg, and Kingston.

“We’re asking residents to exercise patience,” Narine said. “Your garbage will be picked up on schedule; we’re working with what we have at the moment.” He is also asking citizens with any complaints to contact his department.

Meanwhile, at Mondays afternoon’s statutory meeting, Councillor Gregory Fraser said he is not confident that everyone around the horseshoe table knows how

Solid Waste Director, Walter Narine

to run a business. “You can’t keep running and running a business without payment,” he observed.

Councillor Andrea Marks questioned why the same money being used to pay new contractors cannot be used to pay the two main contractors so that they can continue working.

“It’s very unfair,” she said. “I have a serious problem with taking money to pay fresh contractors, when you can use the same money to pay the old contractors.”

Marks was very upset that around 200 youths who were hired by Cevons Waste Management had to be laid off, especially at this time of year, because the company cannot afford to continue paying them.

Councillor Oscar Clarke recalled that several attempts were made in the past to garner more funds, including a suggestion to ask residents to pay $100 to empty one barrel.

According to him, if councillors had pushed this recommendation, the Council could have garnered some $267M for the year so far. But Clarke recalled that councilors sat there are opposed the suggestion; even Councillor Junior Garrett, whom Clarke said literally died arguing against it.

02, 08, 10, 11, 13 23, November, 2018

02 07 11 16 17

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

U.N. approves $9 million in aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela

GENEVA/CARACAS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Monday announced $9.2 million in health and nutritional aid for crisis-stricken Venezuela, where hunger and preventable disease are soaring amid the collapse of the country’s socialist economic system.

It is the first U.N. emergency funding for the government of President Nicolas Maduro, which blames the country’s economic problems on U.S. financial sanctions and an “economic war” led by political adversaries.

Government critics celebrated the move as a recognition by Venezuelan authorities that the country faces a humanitarian crisis - something Maduro has denied in the past - and a step toward treating a population starved of basic services.

But some worry the funds could fuel the corruption of the ruling Socialist Party, which was put on display last week when a former Venezuelan treasurer told U.S. prosecutors he took $1 billion in bribes.

The U.N. Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) will support projects to provide nutritional support to children under five years old, pregnant women and lactating mothers at risk, and emergency health care for the vulnerable, CERF’s website said.

“CERF allocations are made to ensure a rapid response to sudden-onset emergencies or to rapidly deteriorating conditions in an existing emergency,” according to CERF’s website.

CERF mainly funds projects in countries at war or experiencing other crises like

Brazil’s outgoing president hikes judges’ pay in setback for Bolsonaro

Brazil’s exiting President Michel Temer (Reuters)

BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazil’s exiting President Michel Temer signed into law a 16 per cent pay rise for Supreme Court justices on Monday, disregarding a request from his President-elect Jair Bolsonaro that he veto the bill to avoid increasing next year’s budget deficit.

The top court salaries serve as a benchmark for other public sector pay, and the hike will add an estimated four billion reais ($1 billion) to the deficit that Bolsonaro’s economic team has promised to balance in one year.

Bolsonaro, who will inherit a gaping deficit when he takes office on Jan. 1, said earlier this month that this was “not the moment” to approve public sector pay increases.

Bolsonaro’s economic team, led by University of Chicago-trained economist Paulo Guedes, plans to make a new proposal for overhauling the costly pension system, one of the main causes of the deficit that is driving up the country’s public debt.

Temer failed to get pension reform through Congress.

A woman holds her baby on the outskirts of a camp for refugees in Bogota, Columbia ( REUTERS)

natural disasters, a U.N. official told Reuters, adding that other U.N. agencies may have provided funding to Venezuela through separate

programmes.

Venezuela’s Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Aid for Venezuela’s crisis has until now been focused on South American nations that have received most of the three million Venezuelans

who have left the country amid a mass exodus since 2015. CERF’s website shows it has provided $6.2 million for “Venezuela’s Regional Refugee and Migration Crisis.”

Many governments have been wary of providing direct aid to Venezuela, where officials face sanctions from the United States and Europe for alleged wrong-doing including corruption, human rights abuses and drug trafficking.

“I celebrate them finally accepting aid,” exiled opposition legislator Jose Manuel Olivares, a doctor and activist on health issues, said in a telephone interview, but added: “This is a government of profoundly corrupt institutions, and (the funds) could end up in a public official’s bank account in a tax haven”.

Brazilian president-elect adds fifth military man to cabinet

RIO DE JANEIRO/ BRASILIA (Reuters) Brazil’s right-wing president-elect Jair Bolsonaro on Monday picked retired General Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz as his minister in charge of political relations with Congress, adding a fifth military man to his cabinet.

Bolsonaro, a former army captain turned politician who surged to victory on a pledge to end years of corruption and rising violence, made the announcement in a Twitter post.

Moving to deliver on his law-and-order platform, Bolsonaro’s choice for justice and public security, former anti-corruption judge Sergio Moro, said he would coordinate federal and state police forces to better fight organised crime and slow the growth of Brazil’s powerful drug gangs that control swaths of cities.

Some Brazilians are concerned that the appointment of Santos Cruz, who led the United Nations peacekeepers in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and other current or former military officials, marks a return to a militarised government.

Bolsonaro takes office on Jan. 1.

Seeking to defuse those concerns, Bolsonaro, a fan of the 1964-85 military dictatorship, has vowed to adhere to Brazil’s constitution and has moderated some of his more extreme views expressed during almost three decades as a federal congressman. Bolsonaro, who has long been a critic of the socialist government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, again appeared to tone down his strident views on regional migration, saying that Venezuelans fleeing to Brazil could not be returned to their country “because they are not merchandise.”

In comments to reporters on the weekend, he also floated the idea of creating a refugee camp for Venezuelans in the northern border state of Roraima, while defending strict checks on who enters “because there are some people we don’t want in Brazil.”

A non-governmental organisation working on the Venezuelan exodus into Brazil said refugee camps were an “extreme option” for war zone areas and would worsen the plight of the immigrants.

“The camps would be far from urban areas and the Venezuelans want to be in urban areas to be able

to rebuild their lives,” said Camila Asano of Conectas rights group.

She said the crisis has subsided in Roraima where there are 6,000 Venezuelans in shelters and the number living on the streets was down to 600. Asano said, however, that a Brazilian Air Force airlift to move Venezuelans out of Roraima and to larger cities appeared to have slowed down.

In Brasilia, where Bolsonaro’s transition team is preparing to govern, Moro told reporters that he will create a secretariat of police operations to coordinate

all Brazil’s security efforts by federal and state police forces to curb violence in the country that has more murders than any other.

Brazilian states have control over nearly all the police forces in the country, and Moro underscored he would respect their sovereignty.

But he said federal coordination was badly needed to improve street policing across Brazil and to tame the country’s overcrowded prisons, which are under the control of drug gangs who recruit from jail and where bloody uprisings are rampant.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Improving Policing Standards

THE Guyana Police Force (GPF) has featured many times in this column. It is not that delight is taken in doing so; but the fact that it has been done is because this agency is charged with the maintenance of law and order: this translates into protecting citizens and ensuring their safety from criminal attacks; it will therefore always be the subject of scrutiny, because of the conduct of its members.

A Police Service Commission (PSC) is now functioning and a newly appointed police commissioner and high-command staff are now in office. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) is therefore now on a trajectory which must only advance and improve

its public image, particularly in its cooperation with the public through its continuous skills training programmes for ranks, in both academic and professional skills. Of course, the disciplinary side is mandatory, which is about the conduct of its members, whether on or off duty. All this will have to be within consideration of the Security Sector Reform Programme (SSRP), the blueprint for a new GPF, imbued with professionalism for a 21st century arena of high-rise criminal challenges.

The greatest challenge that could face any police agency is the conduct of its members; and Guyana has been no exception in this regard, as had been the experience during the years of the

former political administration; then, there was a systematic destruction of policing standards and professionalism. However, there is now great hope for a better police force that has commenced since 2015 and is now being consolidated for taking the law-enforcement agency to a new level.

There have been better crime-solving successes as evidenced with the many cold cases that have been solved; crime suspects are being quickly apprehended, charged and placed before the courts. In fact, there are hardly murders which are committed within recent years that are not quickly solved.

Critical to these successes has been greater and better

improved cooperation with the general public, which is a key element for the success of any police force in its efforts to combat crime; it is however still is a work in progress, which will become further improved with time.

More policemen are being given opportunities for the furtherance of their crime-fighting skills, by being sent to many of the known police academies overseas. But not only are technical training skills opportunities being offered, but also tertiary-level training. This is evident in the recent graduation of 29 ranks -- beginning from the most junior to the senior levels -with Bachelors and Master’s Degrees, and diplomas. It is instructive to note that there is

a banking and finance graduate among the latter.

This is a new vista as far as higher education for police ranks is concerned, since no longer are such opportunities seemingly confined to the police force’s most senior ranks. It is also timely to say the least, given the fact that with the sophisticated nature of modern criminality, there is the absolute need for better equipped police minds. This is necessary for understanding the societal dynamics of crime, with regard to its evolutionary causes, its effects on its victims and how it is viewed by society. Above all, such higher training will impart a greater appreciation within ranks as to the importance of bringing criminals

to justice. For their achievements, the successful ranks are to be congratulated, as well as the GPF’s administration for supporting them during their studies. Local law enforcement can only benefit from these policemen/women.

Finally, it is worthy of note that disciplinary measures are not being overlooked: police officers, irrespective of rank, are now treated in the same manner as civilians in relation to any violation of the law by being placed before the courts for offences. It signals an administration that intends to uphold the strict disciplinary code of its organisation, without fear or favour. A new-look police force is gradually emerging.

Many working behind the scene to sabotage government programmes Dear Editor, REFERRING to Demerara Waves November 18, 2018 headlined report, “No more Mr Nice Time: APNU targets PPP supporters, NDCs that sabotage government – Harmon”, let me be among the first to fully support this measure that the coalition government, of which Minister Harmon is a member, intends to take against the stated category.

Of course, one should expect the howlings and accusations” of threats against our members” and even that good old, but worn out cry of “witch hunting” coming from the usual voices at Freedom House. And of course, they will deny the fact of the minister’s statement.

Nothing new, for we have heard of them before.

What Minister Harmon has revealed about the stymieing of projects orchestrated to make the government look bad, as well the continuing discriminatory practices in the NDCs where there are especially Afro Guyanese, are well known. In fact, well-known political commentators have been repeating these warnings in their weekly columns, as well

as contributors to the letter pages. But these saboteurs do not only exist in NDCs – they are ensconced in senior positions in many public service departments, where many junior staff have been discussing their wicked and evil acts with relatives and friends, which are designed to embarrass the David Granger administration.

Simply put, such actions have been the major staple served up by the PPP/C- aligned personnel within the public service, and in PPP/C-controlled NDCs where they are providing social amenities for African communities.

As an aside, it is no secret that Afro-Guyanese communities, such as Sophia, suffered decades of neglect during the tenure of the last administration. But within the last three years, this community has been given asphalted roads, street electrification, and potable water in many of its areas. It is a work in continuity, because of its vastness.

There is no doubt that the government would have been receiving complaints from its constituents in these PPP/C-controlled NDCs; and even now, with the APNU fanning out into its constituencies, their supporters are

complaining. There is absolutely no doubt, that this would have been one of the reasons for the low voter turnout in their many constituencies.

I have always questioned the government’s decision to end its removal of dubious individuals from their posts within the many state departments. This came about, I believe, because the President wanted to be guided by the concept of a professional public service, whereby government had been prepared to have any public servant, regardless of political affiliation, continue in its employ and provided that he/she performs in the best interests of the public.

Such an understanding would be a departure from a politically-controlled public employment system, which would only be prejudicial in its service to sections of the general public, while being injurious to the public’s good.

Many of these persons, despite being retained, have been central in the efforts to bring the government’s many socio-economic programmes to a halt. One only has to recall the slow-paced execution of the Public Sector Investment Programmes (PSIPs), and the

government’s monitoring mechanism which resulted in an exponential implementation rate. Though not related, one can also point to the now infamous shortage of foreign currency plot, no doubt politically inspired, by sections of the business community.

This current administration is faced by a concerted effort of forces, inclusive of NDCs inherently racist, and with extreme vested interests, that are primarily influenced by the impending flow of oil as from 2020. They are all hell bent on making it difficult for the current administration to govern this country.

This began from the onset of this government’s tenure in office, led by an opposition that refused to accept the 2015 elections.

It is time that the government publicly expose these particular persons,and their anti-national programmes, whose continuous mission of denying supporters of the government amenities, constitutes a denial of their human rights in addition to creating the grounds for disenchantment with the government.

Regards, Dillon Goring

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

URP clears air on funding Dear Editor, I respond to letter published in the Kaieteur News captioned, “Is this the same Max Mohammed” (KN Nov 12), derogating and making unsubstantiated charges against the United Republican Party (URP) and myself. It is replete with inaccuracies.

In fact, it is fake news as may be the name of the writer. I write to set the record straight.

Let me state at the outset that the United Republican Party (URP) did not, and has not received funds from any source (or government) of the United States as suggested by this letter writer. Also, the URP never received funding from Mr. Max Mohammed or the PNC or the AFC or the PPP. I, Vishnu Bandhu, as political leader, have provided much of the funding for the activities of the organisation (party), since its founding in 1985 and until now. The URP also received some funding from Guyanese Americans and a few others, and the party is grateful for that assistance. I thank our supporters.

Max Mohammed never recruited me to form or join a party. He was never a source of funding for the URP. He was not a founding member of URP. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy was a member of URP before Max. Dr. Prem Misir was also a member of URP. I met Max after the URP was launched. I know he was in the oil business and believe he is qualified to provide guidance to the oil industry in Guyana. I have not seen Max Mohammed for years.

The URP’s founding was a joint idea

of several individuals; it was not Robert Gangadeen’s idea. I approached several Guyanese living in the USA, including Bob Gangadeen, to form the party to fight for free and fair elections in Guyana. It was launched in March 1985, at my business location on Broadway, East New York, Brooklyn. The party lobbied the US Congress, and Presidents Reagan and Bush to help us obtain free and fair elections in Guyana. We also approached former President Jimmy Carter and the Carter Centre. The URP was launched as, and is still pro-American. How could Guyanese living in America, that has been so kind and generous to Guyanese, be anti-American like the PNC, the PPP, the AFC, and WPA. That is the epitome of neemakharamism (ingratitude).

America has provided a home, food and clothing for Guyanese during the period of the PNC ethnic dictatorship. Almost every Guyanese wanted to migrate to America during the 1980s, and they still do, in light of what passes as governance over the last four years. Yet, Lisa Ally, a PPP supporter, remains anti-American while receiving benefits from the US. President Trump is right to close the border to the Lisa Ally’s of the world. America is the guarantor of democracy, and as such the URP is proud to be pro-American. We are thankful and grateful to America to come to our rescue.

I do not know of any Guyana People’s Party (GPP). The GPP was not a constituent of URP; URP had no linkage with any party.

It is true that the URP was founded on democratic and capitalist principles as Ms. Ally charged, unlike the PNC and the PPP. We

are proud of our democratic credentials. The URP remains anti-communist and anti-socialist. We believe in free press and peoples’ right to own businesses. We are proud to be a capitalist oriented party like America.

How could we be anti-capitalist when so many Guyanese are living in capitalist America and when most Guyanese support capitalism; there are more Guyanese living in America than in Guyana; few Guyanese live in socialist Cuba and the Soviet Union.

The USA was so kind and generous to Guyana and responsible for our democracy.

What else could we be but capitalist and democratic? To be otherwise is to disrespect the USA. The PNC, the AFC and the PPP have proved to be ungrateful to America; they are not reliable to defend America’s interests or to protect democracy in Guyana.

I am not aware of Dr. Leslie Ramsammy being a member of National Republican Party (NRP), as claimed by Ms. Ally. He was always a member of URP. The NRP was a spin off from the URP. In late 1986, Max Mohammed joined the URP; he was not a founding member. He became the secretary replacing Deo Gangandeen, brother of Robert, when he fell ill. Rohan Somnarine was elected as treasurer at the party’s founding. I was elected as the chairman. Dr. Kamal Roy Narine of Chicago and Mr. James Melbourne (former Chief Inspector in Guyana) were members. The URP participated in rallies and marches in Washington D.C., at the United Nations, and at the India Day Parades in Manhattan.

We also held other activities like Diwali pageants, Phagwah and Indian Arrival Day

celebrations. And, we organised Guyanese concerts featuring local artistes including one (Beauty Pageant and Cultural Evening) at Brooklyn College in May 1986. We worked with other organisations to bring about free and fair elections in Guyana.

Without URP’s contribution in the struggle, Guyana would not have experienced FFE and the PPP would not have come to power in October 1992.

The URP was launched in Guyana in March 1987. The executives of the party had committed to re-migrate to Guyana. I was the only one to honor that commitment, resettling in Guyana and being harassed by the dictatorship.

There was a conflict in the URP in 1989.

Bob Gangadeen was brought up on charges and a trial held by the members. He was disciplined with expulsion, according to the party’s constitution. Max Mohammed left the party with Bob Gangadeen, and they formed the NRP. The URP was without a leader for a brief period. Dr. Ramsammy who was a member of the party since early 1986, was subsequently chosen as the leader in 1990. As best as I know, Ramsammy was not a member of NRP. I never had Real Estate Business in Queens. Ms. Ally must be condemned for scandalising names of reputable people and the URP. Her attack on me and URP will not discourage us from continuing to educate Guyanese about the misrule we are experiencing.

Regards, Dr. Vishnu Bandhu

At U.N., U.S. warns Russia over ‘outrageous’ violation of Ukraine sovereignty

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley warned Russia on Monday that its seizure of three Ukrainian vessels was an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory” and urged Moscow to reduce tensions caused by its “arrogant” act.

Haley said she had spoken with President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier on Monday and that her statement “reflects the concerns at the highest level.”

“As President Trump has said many times, the United States would welcome a nor-

mal relationship with Russia.

But outlaw actions like this one continue to make that impossible,” said Haley, a member of Trump’s cabinet.

Russia seized two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat, which Moscow said had illegally entered Russia’s territorial waters. Kiev said its vessels did nothing wrong and has accused Russia of military aggression.

“The United States will maintain its Crimea-related sanctions against Russia.

Further Russian escalation of this kind will only make matters worse. It will further

undermine Russia’s standing in the world. It will further sour Russia’s relations with the U.S. and many other countries,” Haley said.

Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko called on the international community “to implement a new set of sanctions aimed at addressing the situation in the region, including against Russia’s Azov ports.”

He told the council that increased political pressure on Moscow would help de-escalate the situation, but also warned that Ukraine was “ready to use all available means in exercising our right to self-defense.”

Russian Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy accused Ukraine of planning the incident and suggested it was because President Petro Poroshenko’s popularity among voters was low ahead of an election next year.

“How can he maintain power in these circumstances? It’s clear - organise provocation and once again accuse Russia of everything, inflate his own ratings and put himself forward as the saviour of the nation,” Polyanskiy told the council.

“This is about cancelling the elections despite all of Poroshenko’s assurances to

the contrary,” he said, warning that Russia “has never caused the first blow, but it knows how to protect itself.”

Yelchenko rejected Polyanskiy’s remarks about motives. He told the council the incident was a “clear threat to international peace and security” and that Russia was mixing reality with fiction in trying to explain what happened.

U.N. Political Affairs Chief Rosemary DiCarlo, told the Security Council the United Nations could not independently verify what had happened “We strongly urge both the Russian Federation and

Ukraine to refrain from any ratcheting up of actions or rhetoric and remind both of the need to contain this incident so as to prevent a serious escalation,” she said.

The 15-member Security Council has met dozens of times over the crisis in Ukraine since Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. It is unable to take any action as Russia is one of the council’s five veto powers.

The Ukrainian vessels seized by Russia on Sunday had been trying to enter the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea via the narrow Kerch Strait that separates Crimea from the Russian mainland.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Gov’t flags under-performing public enterprises “The performance of the public enterprises remains a cause for concern with the budgeted deficit of $10.1 billion, worsening to a latest forecast of $15.8 billion, for 2018 – a deterioration from the deficit of $13.0 billion recorded for 2017,” Finance Minister Winston Jordan said.

He made the remarks during his budget presentation on Monday in the National Assembly. Minister Jordan said these outcomes resulted mainly from lower sugar production by GuySuCo, and higher acquisition cost of fuel by Guyana Power and Light Incorporated (GPL) and Guyana Oil Company (GuyOil), in 2018.

He said overall, between

the budgeted and revised positions for 2018, revenue of the public enterprises declined by 2.8 per cent, to $120 billion, while the total non-interest expenditure grew by 8.2 per cent to $126 billion.

MONETARY DEVELOPMENTS Meanwhile, Jordan said the supply of money and quasi money is expected to increase by 5.3 per cent at the end of 2018. The amount of money in the economy is anticipated to grow to approximately $386.5 billion, with all monetary aggregates projected to expand, in 2018.

Moreover, the level of narrow money is likely to grow by 6.7 per cent to $167.9

billion, in 2018, reflecting an expansion in demand deposits and currency in circulation, of 12.1 per cent and 8.6 per cent, respectively. “In contrast, cashiers‘ cheques and acceptances are forecasted to decline by 54.7 per cent. With regard to quasi money, this aggregate is projected to increase by 4.2 per cent to $218.6 billion, mirroring growth in its two main components: time and savings deposits, of 5.2 per cent and 4.0 per cent, respectively,” Jordan said.

He added that net domestic credit is expected to grow by 14.6 per cent to $251.2 billion, in 2018. Credit to the agriculture and services sectors is projected to grow by 12.0 per cent and 6.1 per

cent, to $12.7 billion and $69.9 billion, respectively.

In contrast, he said loans and advances to the mining and quarrying, and manufacturing sectors are projected to contract by 11.9 per cent and 3.7 per cent, to $4.7 billion and $23.6 billion, respectively. On the other hand, credit to households is anticipated to increase by 2.1 per cent to $31.1 billion, while real estate mortgage loans are projected to grow faster at 6.6 per cent to $83.1 billion, in 2018. Credit instruments such as credit cards are also anticipated to expand by 3.3 per cent to $3.2 billion. The public sector is expected to remain in a net credit position.

In 2018, total liquid as-

Linden-Lethem highway takes top priority ––IDB pegs container traffic benefits to Guyana at 80% GOVERNMENT has signalled its intention to make the Linden-Lethem super-highway its “main priority” in the coming year.

And according to Finance Minister Winston Jordan, monies have been budgeted in the 2019 National Budget for the construction of six kilometers of paved roads between Wisroc at Linden and Mile Zero along the way to Mabura.

Minister Jordan told the National Assembly during his budgetary presentation on Monday that with the support of key development partners, the government will commence the feasibility study for the next 125 kilometers of road, which is from Linden to Mabura and the bridge across the Kurupukari River. That study is billed to commence sometime in the new year.

Noting that a total sum of $38.5B has been set aside in the budget for infrastructure in 2019, Minister Jordan said that the government is already in discussion with the Brazilian government on the development of the Mabura to Lethem leg of the road which will take it all the

way to Region Nine (Upper Takutu- Upper Essequibo).

EASE OF ACCESS “The entire road,” he told the House, “will create ease of access to Brazil, and improve local community welfare through increased traffic, commercial trade, and economic advancement within the surrounding communities, including the new township of Lethem, which is earmarked for significant expansion with the proposed upgrade of the Lethem Aerodrome to a regional airport.”

He said that when completed, the proposed super-highway from Linden to Lethem will “open the vast Rupununi and intermediate savannahs of Guyana; stimulate business activities; create eco-tourism opportunities for our hinterland communities contiguous to the corridor; facilitate easy road access for our foresters and miners; and open a new and dynamic trade and commercial link with northern Brazil.”

He also informed the National Assembly that Guyana stands to benefit significantly from the project in the long-

term. He said that preliminary studies financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) have indicated that approximately 80 per cent of the container traffic to and from northern Brazil will be re-routed from the Manaus-Amazon River to Port Georgetown, with connections to North America, Europe and further afield.

Late in December 2017, this newspaper reported that Guyana and Brazil will be working closely with China to access a US$50B China Select Fund to help construct the road.

BETTER PROSPECTS Following the Guyana Government’s signing of the two agreements with Brazil, one of which deals with the road link, the Ministry of the Presidency had quoted President David Granger as saying that for decades, both sides had envisaged a route through Guyana, which will provide better development prospects for investors to come from the Caribbean into Brazil and from Brazil into the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, under the 2019 Budget, the sum of $134M has been set aside for the execution of studies and designs for the rehabilitation of the 72km Soesdyke-Linden Highway, which, according to Minister Jordan, is a critical road link that has been neglected for over two decades.

As such, he sees its rehabilitation as warranted, as it “re-emphasises the importance of Linden as the central hub to connect the hinterland regions,” and provides for more intensive development of the land on both sides of the Highway for several purposes, including housing, commercial and industrial development.

The Soesdyke-Linden Highway was built between 1966 and 1968, and officially commissioned in 1969.

It was rehabilitated between 1997-1999 by the Trinidadian firm, Seereeram Brothers Ltd, through funding from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

sets of the commercial banks are projected to increase by 1.9 per cent to $114.0 billion; this is 50.8 per cent above the minimum required amount, with treasury bills accounting for 49.3 per cent of that total.

He said the 12-month inflation rate is estimated to increase to two per cent, slightly below the projected 2.4 per cent. The small savings rate stood at 1.04 per cent as of October 2018, declining seven basis points, when compared with December 2017. Similarly, the weighted average lending rate declined by six basis points to 10.1 per cent, over the same period. According to Jordan, while the small savings rate is likely to re-

main stable, the weighted average lending rate is expected to decline marginally, towards to end of 2018.

In addition, at the end of October 2018, the 182day and 364-day domestic treasury bill yields decreased to 0.96 per cent and 1.14 per cent, from 1.11 per cent and 1.20 per cent, respectively, when compared with December 2017; the 91-day domestic treasury bill yield remained stable at 1.54 per cent. Domestic treasury bill yields were, on average, lower thus far, in 2018, and are expected to continue trending lower towards the end of 2018, due to more competitive bidding practices.

Barbadian judge to join CCJ CHAIRMAN of the Regional Judicial and Legal Services Commission (RJLSC) and President of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), Justice Adrian Saunders, has announced that Justice Andrew Burgess, currently a Justice of Appeal in Barbados’ Court of Appeal, will become a judge of the CCJ in 2019.

In a release, the CCJ said that Justice Saunders warmly welcomed the newest CCJ Judge, stating, “Mr. Justice Burgess brings with him a wide range of international and regional experience, which will be a great complement to the outstanding jurists already serving the Court. I look forward to him joining us in the new year and I am confident that he will continue the tradition of excellence that has characterised his career thus far”.

Justice Burgess who is the first Barbadian to be appointed to the CCJ became a Court of Appeal Judge in 2010. He was previously a Dean of the Faculty of Law at The University of the West Indies’ Cave Hill campus and a Professor of Corporate and Commercial Law. He also had a distinguished career internationally as a judge of the Inter-American Development Bank’s Administrative Tribunal in Washington D.C. Mr. Jus-

Justice Andrew Burgess

tice Burgess was the body’s Vice-President in 2007 and 2009 and served as President from 2009-2010.

He is also a judge on the World Bank Administrative Tribunal, having been appointed in 2013. In 2017, he was elected by his fellow judges to be the Vice President of the tribunal. He was a Senior Commonwealth Fellow at Oxford University, England, between 19921993. Justice Burgess is also an author, having published the Commonwealth Caribbean Company Law in 2013 and The Law of Corporate Receivers and Receiver-Managers in 2002, in addition to being published on legal issues especially in corporate and commercial jurisprudence. Mr. Justice Burgess’ appointment will fill the vacancy left by the elevation of Mr. Justice Saunders to the position of President in July 2018.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Henry, Hughes hail $52.2B allocation for Education Sector –– say focus on ICT development is critical

MINISTER of Education Dr. Nicolette Henry and Minister of Public Telecommunication, Cathy Hughes have shared their satisfaction with the $52.2B budgetary allocation for the Education sector.

Speaking exclusively to the Guyana Chronicle, Minister Henry said: “I am certainly pleased with the allocations for the Education sector; it is in excess of $50B and therefore represents a sizable amount and a lot of work that is required to be done for the people of the country.”

The minister also explained, “We are looking at human and social development related to education,” and highlighted that in submitting her ministry’s proposed figures, there were a number of priority areas.

“The school feeding programme is a big focus for us because it helps to increase attendance at school, it is related to poverty alleviation

and it also helps in terms of healthy eating,” she highlighted.

In addition to that, the minister noted that within the Education sector there has been specific focus given towards expanding school support services, particularly as it relates to welfare and counselling—to add to overall psychosocial health. The budget also looks to build the capacity of teachers in this regard.

And the development of infrastructure within the sector will continue, she noted, with the creation of new schools and the maintenance and repairs of existing schools.

ICT During his presentation, Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan shared: "Education is not only about the past and present, but it is also the bridge that connects us to the future."

As such, Dr. Henry said

Minister of Education, Dr. Nicolette Henry

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes

it is the development of students and boosting their academic capacity with Information and Communication Technology (ICT).

To this end, she reflected on the budget and shared: “We will be introducing robotics across primary schools and selected secondary schools, we will expand the SMART classrooms

programme and we will be looking at artificial intelligence (AI) and animation and things that we have not done, or attempted in the past.”

According to Minister Jordan, the use of smart classrooms will be expanded throughout the country, with Santa Rosa and Paramakatoi Secondary Schools being

among the priority schools for 2019.

Minister of Public Telecommunications, Cathy Hughes expressed her elation at the $4B budgeted for her ministry but was equally excited about the deepening ties between education and ICT. “70 per cent of the jobs in 2025 are going to require that our young people have skills in ICT and the beauty about Guyana is that we have a whole cadre of young persons that are comfortable with ICT,” Hughes related.

She noted that through her ministry, some 1400 persons have been trained in ICT, through a myriad of programmes offered and said, “These are areas that young people can begin to transform and when you have these skills you can begin to make a living from the skills.”

Hughes shared too that Minister Jordan would have made special concessions at her behest, in this regard, such as the provision of robotics kits in schools so that robotics can become inte-

grated into the school curriculum.

“The whole philosophy is that we can use ICT and technology to transform Guyana,” the telecommunications minister noted.

With this in mind, she also highlighted that the government—again, at her behest— would have made a special commitment this year to see how ICT can be used to help persons living with disabilities.

The budget explores the possibility of tax concessions for private vehicles equipped for transporting persons with disabilities and Minister Jordan noted that government will examine the feasibility of providing tax rebate on cell phones with accessibility features for persons with visual or hearing impairments.

“What we’ve found is that members of the disability community cannot afford to purchase these things,” Hughes said and affirmed: “I am excited because I think the budget in all had a lot for people—and for persons to benefit overall.”

Jagdeo says budget disappointing …downplays hike in pension, salaries, increase in tax threshold

By Vanessa Braithwaite OPPOSITION Leader Bharrat Jagdeo said he is “very, very”, disappointed with the $300.7 B budget presented by Finance Minister Winston Jordan, saying he could not find two good things about the budget when questioned by a journalist.

The budget provided for an increase in the income tax threshold, a raise in the minimum wage and made allowance for a host of incentives to small businesses; the private sector, lower taxes for manufacturers among other things.

Jagdeo, however, said that the budget has not put forth “a single objective that will be beneficial to the wellbeing of the people.”

Surrounded by several of his opposition colleagues, at a press conference held immediately after Jordan’s presentation, Jagdeo described the budget as incoherent, and repetitious.

He believed that the gov-

ernment would have upped its game in presenting a more people-oriented budget, which speaks of job creation, economic stimulation and sectors growth, after listening to the concerns of the common man during the recent LGE campaign; more so that the government is facing a no-confidence motion from the Opposition.

“What we have had here is a lengthy budget that is filled with reputation, it is incoherent, disappointing, replete with repetitions…. this is not a budget, it was just sterile and full of platitudes, just hoping that they can deceive the people of this country by talking for long periods and just repeating words,” Jagdeo said.

Jagdeo described the budget as a ‘dream seller’, noting that it is giving the citizenry false hope of what infrastructural development to expect in the near future, but it is in fact the commencement of feasibility studies that have very large timelines. The Opposition Leader said the min-

Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo addressing members of the media at a press conference on Monday at Parliament Buildings. He is flanked by other opposition members of parliament

ister in his speech confirmed that the economy performed badly in 2018 and that several sectors did poorly, as a result of the collapse of revenue which will put pressure on the exchange rate.

From the PPP’s last budget, he said that the total tax take was $135 B and by 2017 the current administration collected an increase of $64 B in taxes. He described the removal of various taxes from sectors such as mining,

housing and manufacturing as nothing more than cosmetic and miniscule, since miners are still faced with a plethora of taxes.

Jordan’s budget presentation however showed that tax regime relative to gold and diamond mining has been simplified, allowing it to be assessed on a sliding scale, thus allowing it to be the final tax on the income of gold and diamond miners. While the Opposition Leader derailed

the budget for not being people- oriented, it contains an increase in the minimum wage, public assistance, old age pension and disability benefits among others.

Jagdeo, however, believes that these are not forms of real support since taxes have increased and transportation cost will increase as well. There are no new taxes in the budget. “This budget is the same visionless budget that is filled with platitudes

and condescending attitudes that they have come up with once again….I really thought they were going to re-organise this budget now that they are faced with a no- confidence motion,” he said.

Contrary to Jagdeo’s belief, Jordan said that 2019’s budget should be deemed the most significant. “Budget 2019 must rank as the most significant, since it speaks to our stewardship of the economy; of the policies, projects and programmes that will grow the economy at rates that would catapult us into a country, that can truly be classified as upper middle income. It advances our agenda for a stratospheric leap into the future, where we are seen as the jewel in CARICOM‘s crown – a country that is coveted for its high standard of living, leadership and sustainable development.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

$17.1B for agriculture sector

…$220M research facility for Ebini …new milk plant for Diamond IN 2019, Government will rebuild a modern agricultural research facility at Ebini, in Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice (Region 10) at a cost of over $220M, and which will be a developmental institution for orchards, nurseries and seed production, as well as for breeding herds of cattle and small ruminants to provide stock for farmers and entrepreneurs, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan said on Monday.

He told the National Assembly that the initiative will support a developmental thrust of bridging the hinterland and coast by re-distributing economic activities inland, while complementing other economic activities such as forestry, mining and other support services.

“Food and baseline studies and value chain studies in spices will be conducted

Cattle at the Ebini Agricultural Station, Region 10

in Mabaruma and Moruca, to provide an assessment of the status of food, agriculture and livelihoods for the targeted areas,” Minister Jordon said.

Further, he noted that a food processing facility will be constructed in Region One, and an additional water

reservoir for water harvesting and rearing of Black Giant poultry will be constructed in Region Nine, while shade houses will be constructed in Regions Seven, Eight and 10.

However, the minister said that government must ramp up the diversification

efforts to take advantage of available resources, and solidify the transformation that is required for building economic resilience while prioritising food safety and security, productivity, improved infrastructure, new value chains and value-added

industries that boost investments in agro-processing and institutional capacity.

For these efforts, Minister Jordan said the government has allocated $17.1 billion to the agriculture sector, in 2019. Further in 2019, the Government will conduct a feasibility study to establish a dairy value chain, through the supply of improved breeding stock to farmers, milk chilling stations and refrigerated trucks to supply fresh milk to a new milk plant to be built at Diamond on the East Bank Demerara, by a leading Guyanese firm, he said.

The Finance Minister told the House that construction is slated to commence in 2019.

“As this ambitious programme matures, the milk plant will produce re-constituted pasteurised milk for the local market. Mr. Speaker, there is urgent need for up-to-date and reliable statistical information on food and agricultural activities, in order to develop sound policies and development plans for the agricultural sector,” Minister Jordan said.

Such information, he said, is needed not only to guide in

the decision-making for the development of the sector, but also for monitoring and the evaluation of development plans and projects. To this end, Minister Jordan said preliminary works have commenced to execute a national agricultural census, in 2019.

In terms of legislation, he said a draft of the updated regulations for general food safety, abattoirs, meat, milk, poultry inspections and grading of eggs, fruits and vegetables was completed in 2018.

“The draft is currently being reviewed. Once finalised, these regulations will support the Food Safety Act and the Animal Welfare Act, paving the way for new investment opportunities, including facilitating private sector innovation and expansion into new, agro-based products,” Jordan explained.

He continued: “While emphasis is being placed on the development of non-traditional agricultural products, we will continue to diversify the traditional products, which remained key sources of revenue for our economy.”

Hinterland villages to benefit from Survey for constitutional reform process coming financial, technical support …cultural activities to receive $210M boost IN recent months, 22 hinterland villages have completed their sustainable village improvement plans, and in the months ahead another 31 villages are expected to complete their plans, a task which will see them benefiting through technical and financial support in the long term from the government.

“These plans are intended to encourage economic activities, while promoting sustainable use, protection and conservation of village lands,” Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan told the National Assembly on Monday during the 2019 National Budget presentation.

Jordan said that the government has prioritised development of hinterland regions as reflected in the increased investments in infrastructure, education and health. These interventions will directly and indirectly impact the lives of our hinterland people, the finance minister noted.

He said that under the APNU+AFC government, emphasis will continue to be placed on preservation of the indigenous peoples‘culture.

He reminded parliamentarians that government has contributed $203 million in 2018 to support indigenous peoples ‘cultural celebrations.

Next year, government will contribute $210M to sustain the hinterland people‘s festivities and the events include the Heritage Pageant, the annual Rupununi Rodeo, the Rupununi Music and Arts Festival and the Upper Mazaruni District games.

Minister Jordan reported that in 2017 and 2018, a sum of $178.9M was expended on support to the education and training of persons from the hinterland. He said in 2019, the government will continue to support this initiative by contributing over $89.4M in support of the venture.

“This includes provision for uniforms and transportation,” Jordan said, as he noted that the intervention will directly impact the lives of 33,908 hinterland students as government continues to bridge the gap between coastal and hinterland access to quality education.

Jordan said too that more monies have been budgeted to complete ongoing projects in

the Hinterland. This includes the flagship Hinterland Green Enterprise Development Centre, at Bina Hill, Annai in the Rupununi, which he noted will be completed in 2019.

He reported that two dormitories have been completed and are expected to house 120 students at the institution. He said too that a food processing facility will be built at Bina Hill. “This facility will conduct the post-harvest processing of the famous purple potato and other nutritional tubers like yam,” Jordan reported. He said that the research entity, the Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (IAST), will provide assistance in training residents in the utilisation of the technical machinery as well as conduct further processing into value-added products.

Jordan told the National Assembly that the initiatives will impact the development of the area, including nearby communities. “With the empowerment and skills transfer programmes, we can expect products coming out of this area to be ready for the local market,” Jordan said. He noted that the recently launched

SAK purple potato drink has joined a growing list of authentic indigenous products like Rupununi Essence, Pakaraima Flavours, Sundried Tomato Ketchup and Salad dressing. The products can be found on the shelves of supermarkets across the city.

Between 2016 and 2018, a sum of $2.3 billion was provided in support the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme and a total of 2,054 small businesses were established and managed by hinterland youths through the intervention.

“Youths participating in this programme have benefitted from life skills training, which allow them to become entrepreneurs,” Jordan said. As such, he noted that in 2019, the government will continue to support the HEYS initiative by contributing over $176.1 million to provide support by means of monitoring, grants and mentorship to allow the hinterland youths to launch their micro-enterprises into vibrant economic activities.

in 2019 - Jordan

MINISTER of Finance M.r Winston Jordan expressed the hope that the bi-Partisan Standing Committee on Constitutional Reform will conclude its review of the Constitutional Reform Consultative Commission Bill.

He further stated that in 2019, a survey is to be embarked upon in collaboration with the University of Guyana to gauge the public’s understanding of the constitutional reform processes.

According to the minister, during his delivery of the budget 2019 speech in the National Assembly on Monday, constitutional reform remains a mandate and promise of the Coalition Government. The legislation has been with the standing committee for over a year.

“Our government welcomes the constructive scrutiny that the honourable members of this committee will no doubt exercise in their rigorous examination of the Bill, as we collectively recognise the need to adapt our constitution to reflect our evolution as a democracy,” said the minister.

He noted that Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo has been, and will continue to spearhead constitutional re-

form with the full support of the government. “We have allocated some resources in Budget 2019 to mount a survey and an awareness programme, in partnership with University of Guyana and others. The survey will seek to assess the current understanding of constitutional reform by the general populace and their expectations, while the awareness programme will aim to stimulate a grassroots participatory approach to the entire process,” he said.

The minister said that his government has established a number of constitutional bodies such as the Public Procurement Commission and the Local Government Commission. “We have re-constituted several dormant constitutional bodies, including Public Service Appellate Tribunal, Integrity Commission and Ethnic Relations Commission. We have enacted legislation to promote the financial independence of the constitutional bodies. Collectively, constitutional agencies account for approximately 3.5 per cent of Budget 2019, up from 3.3 percent in 2018,” Jordan said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

State-of-the-art trauma centre for GPHC …$35.9 billion budgeted for health sector

GOVERNMENT will construct a new accident and emergency facility at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation and discussions have commenced with interested development partners to build a modern, state-of-the-art trauma centre that will better manage emergency cases, including addressing patient flow, isolation and capacity.

This is according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, during his budget presentation on Monday in the National Assembly.

“If we are to empower our people and build sustainable communities, it must be on the foundation of a healthy population. We will continue to invest resources in the health sector to ensure that the public healthcare system is maintained and upgraded, in order to deliver adequate and efficient care to improve the quality of life of all Guyanese,” Jordan said.

To this end, the finance minister said a total of $35.9 billion has been budgeted for this sector for 2019, 11.9 per cent of the Budget, $2.6 billion above 2018‘s

allocation, and 4.3 per cent of GDP. Within this allocation, Jordon said a sum of $3.2 billion is for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health infrastructure across the country and another $7.8 billion will be used to procure drugs and medical supplies.

Noting that the availability of drugs and medical supplies continues to be of concern to the administration, Minister Jordon said a person that is prescribed treatment at a public health facility should not have to go to a private pharmacy to procure medication.

“We will be putting systems in place to strengthen procurement planning and ensure cost-effective purchases of drugs, in order to eliminate shortages and emergency purchases,” he said.

He explained that the disease profile of Guyana shows that non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain the biggest public health challenge. The data, he said, indicates that NCDs, such as diabetes and hypertension, are on the rise and these can

Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan

also cause further complications, and even death, if left unchecked and untreated. “There is a reason why NCDs are referred to as ‘silent killers’. We must all recognise that a large

contributor to this issue is our lifestyle, including lack of exercise, poor food choices and inadequate medical check-ups. While the government will continue to expand its public

awareness and education programmes, screening and treatment, the decision is ours to make in terms of lifestyle choices,” he said.

This year, he said government has taken initial steps to incentivise at-risk individuals to make healthier choices by increasing the taxes and duties on cigarettes, thereby discouraging their use. Adding that recent trends in non-communicable diseases warrant additional efforts, in 2019, Minister Jordan said with regard to tuberculosis (TB), “we have noted an increase in incidence of the multi-drug resistant strain of this disease.”

In response, he said the government will be revitalising its DOTs programme, to ensure adequate detection, treatment and monitoring.

Additionally, HIV appears to be rising, with the 20-29 age cohort showing the highest incidence – 32 per cent of all newly reported cases, in 2017. Similar to NCDs, he said this disease also relies on our lifestyle choices, specifically, the decision to use protection, commit to continuous testing and diligently follow treatment prescribed.

“The government will continue its public awareness, surveillance and follow-up programmes.

We have committed to the international 90/90/90 Treat All Policy towards the eradication of HIV,” Jordan said. Additionally, he said in order to reduce the number of referrals, we would be strengthening our workforce across the country; however, this requires investment in appropriate living facilities for, and incomes of, our health professionals, especially those serving in hinterland, remote and riverine areas. To this end, Jordon said in 2019, “we will construct living quarters in key areas such as Kamarang, Kaikan, Lethem, Wiruni, Mabaruma, Leguan and Mabura. Also, we will examine the issue of allowances for health workers.”

Gov’t channels $3.1B into UG –– mobile welfare units, expansion of schools on the cards IN 2019, the University of Guyana (UG) will receive a subvention of $3.1 billion and according to Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan, a sum of $508 million is earmarked for upgrading of facilities at both the Turkeyen and Tain campuses.

The figures are part of a fraction of the $52.2B which has been set aside in the national budget for the education sector. A sum of $2.6 billion of the total allocation for UG will be expended on the university’s operational expenditure. “The university will also be undertaking the drafting of a strategic plan, which will incorporate plans to offer several new degrees, in the area of petroleum engineering,” Jordan said.

Other investments in 2019 include a sum of $5.4B which has been allocated for the construction, rehabilitation, extension and maintenance of educational facilities across the country.

The finance minister said that in 2019, government will continue to undertake further works on secondary schools including those at Westminster on the West Bank of Demerara, St. Roses in the city, Port Kaituma in the North West District, Wakapoa in the Pomeroon/Supenaam and Bladen Hall Multilateral on the East Coast of Demerara.

In addition, he said that nursery and primary schools including those at Chenapau

and Mahdia in the Potaro/ Siparuni Region, Diamond/ Grove on the East Bank of Demerara, Bagotville on the West Bank of Demerara and White Water in the Mabaruma sub-region will benefit from improved physical conditions and additional classroom spaces for students.

He reported to the National Assembly that in 2018, the APNU+AFC administration continued to upgrade and expand educational facilities. He said that learning resource centres at Mabaruma in the North West District, Bartica in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni Region, Kato in the Potaro/Siparuni Region and Lethem in the Rupununi were outfitted with same.

Jordan also reported that the Ministry of Education began to expand experiential learning for students at all levels, through the distribution of math and literacy kits.

He said that smart classrooms were introduced to improve learning and teaching by connecting students in hinterland and coastal locations, especially to support the delivery of content for specific lessons, and for teachers’ training.

He said smart classrooms in Waramadong in the Cuyuni/Mazaruni and Kato were completed while a comprehensive overhaul of the school curricula begun with the training of education professionals.

“Considerable progress

was made in enhancing the capacity of post-secondary technical vocational education training institutions to deliver competency-based education and training and to meet the standards which allow them to offer the Caribbean Vocational Qualification in a number of skill areas,” Jordan said.

The issue of bullying in schools is also being addressed by the government and earlier this month the first ever Mobile Psychosocial Unit was commissioned by the Ministry of Education.

In 2019, the government will continue to expend finances on similar projects.

Minister Jordan told the National Assembly on Monday that in 2019, programmes

geared at reducing bullying and violence as well as other social problems in schools will be expanded to ensure regular school attendance. He said two mobile welfare units will be introduced to expand access to a wider student population.

The school-aged population will continue to benefit from the school feeding programme across the country which Jordan noted, will be expanded in 2019 with an additional 9,545 students expected to benefit. “This programme has been shown to be pivotal to improving school attendance and enhancing learning in the absence of hunger,” the finance minister said.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Gov’t to expand legal aid service …full complement of judges, magistrates for 2019

GOVERNMENT will be expanding legal aid access in 2019, including legal assistance in the defence of minor and non-violent offenders, as well as increase the use of restorative justice.

This was announced by Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his budget presentation on Monday. In announcing that some $3.6B has been budgeted for the justice sector, Jordan told the house that a draft restorative justice bill has already been submitted to the Attorney General‘s Chambers for review. The draft bill, he said, emphasises alternative dispute resolution mechanisms which seek to repair the harm caused by criminal behavior, by facilitating constructive mediation between stakeholders.

To this end, he said that in 2019 the government will endeavour to establish a restorative justice office, as well as train around 1,200 persons across the justice sector on restorative justice.

With respect to alternative sentencing measures, the government will be developing judicial policies for non-custodial measures. This will reduce the pre-trial detention by five per cent and recidivism by at least two per

cent by 2021, Minister Jordan said. “We will also continue to improve the dispensation of justice, with provision being made to add another courthouse in Region One,” in addition to the four new courthouses being set up in 2018 in Grove/Diamond, Bartica, Mahdia and Kwakwani, he said.

COMPLEMENT OF JUDGES Additionally, Jordan said the government will support the judiciary as they seek to expand their complement of magistrates and judges, noting that the $3.6B allocation represents an increase of 15.8 percent over Budget 2017.

The finance minister in noting that the rule of law serves as the backbone for any society, said that commissioners for the Law Reform Commission are being identified and once fully constituted and operational, the commission is anticipated to commence its critical role in the updating the laws of Guyana in 2019.

Further, with the unanimous passage of the Juvenile Justice Bill by the House, it signals a collective commitment to reform the approach in dealing with this part of the citizenry. The finance minister explained that the Act updates Guyana‘s juve-

nile justice system to be consistent with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, with the aim of guaranteeing juveniles access to legal assistance, re-insertion and diversion programmes, and providing children and adolescents to be accountable for their violations of the law.

“The new law incorporates diversionary measures, court appearances, sentencing, a Juvenile Justice Committee and support facilities such as a halfway house,” he said.

Additionally, Minister Jordan said that modern options and alternative measures are being explored prior to committing a child to a detention facility. “A costing of the implementation of this Act indicates that key cost drivers include, training and the establishment of a halfway house for which we will seek to identify suitable land in 2019,” he said.

AML/CFT REGIME Jordan also touched on Guyana’s efforts in combatting money laundering and terrorist financing, saying that the country was proud to be elevated to Chair the Planning Level Committee of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF).

“As nations continue to col-

mechanism responsible for national AML/CFT policies. “We continued to build capacity, in 2018, with the training of judges and prosecutors in AML/CFT-related cases and Assessors Training.

The government held sensitisation sessions on AML/ CFT matters in Regions 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10. These sessions and training will continue in 2019, so that Guyana is fully prepared for its 4th Round Mutual Evaluation.”

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Basil Williams SC, gestures as he enters the Parliament chambers (Samuel Maughn photo)

laborate in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, Guyana must keep abreast with the emerging regulations and practices, to protect the integrity of its financial system,” he asserted.

He said the national legal framework was fur-

ther strengthened with the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) (Amendment) Bill, which sought to satisfy Recommendation 2 of the Financial Action Task Force Recommendations by establishing a coordinating

Additionally, Jordan mentioned that the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has also bolstered its capacity through the expansion of its reporting entities to over 200, and more categories of entities are expected to come on board in 2019, including cooperatives, commissioners of oaths and affidavits and auditors.

The FIU also conducted 12 training seminars, in 2018, on AML/CFT directed at key stakeholders including banks, lottery agents and non-profit organisations.

The Unit will be sourcing software, in 2019, in order to improve its intelligence gathering capabilities.

‘GSDS has been drafted’ – Winston Jordan MINISTER of Finance Winston Jordan has confirmed that a draft of Guyana’s Green State Development Strategy (GSDS) has been completed.

“I am pleased to indicate that a draft of the strategy has been completed,” said the minister during his Budget 2019 presentation in the National Assembly on Monday.

“Mr. Speaker, in Budget 2018, I mentioned the elaboration of the Green State Development Strategy that would become a living example of our country‘s commitment to the planet, while ensuring the sustainable growth and economic well-being of every citizen,” the minister said.

He outlined that the Green State Development Strategy: Vision 2040, will

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan

guide national development policies for the next 20 years, providing a good quality of life for all its citizens, based on sound education and social protection, low carbon and resilient development, allowing for new economic opportunities, justice and political empowerment.

According to the minister, the government developed the GSDS from a multi-layered, nationwide stakeholder consultation process that began in 2017 and involved 1,700 participants from 200 communities across Guyana‘s 10 regions. The process saw the engagement

of several multi-stakeholder expert groups, drawing together 130 professionals from the public and private sectors, and civil society.

“The government is grateful for their diligent work and contribution to this national effort; and the concerns expressed by Guyanese from all walks of life have been considered. The government is committed to continuing this engagement with stakeholders while implementing the strategy” the minister said.

Minister Jordan noted that petroleum revenues soon to come mean that the GSDS comes at an important stage in Guyana’s development — one that can have an immediate impact on our national accounts. “However, government is aware of the risks and

the need to prudently manage these resources over future generations. Sound fiscal and monetary policy is therefore critical,” he said.

“Mr. Speaker, the government acknowledges that economic development must not be at the expense of our environment, and vibrant and healthy communities.

Resource extraction should be guided by evidence-based, sustainability guidelines in keeping with our ? ‘green’ state principles. This would ensure that our natural resources are protected for future generations and that we maximise social benefits for workers and local communities,” said the minister.

He said that the strategy will focus on modernising Guyana’s traditional sectors, stimulating expan-

sion in its high-growth sectors and developing new high-value-adding sectors such as tourism, business process outsourcing and agro-processing. “Together, these actions will ensure that the economy can respond to and leverage new opportunities in the global shift to sustainable development. This economic transformation will be underpinned by investments in renewable power supply and efficient roads and infrastructure that reduce the day-to-day costs that businesses face, improve connections between the coast and the hinterland, and bring Guyanese-made products to global markets in a timely and efficient manner.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

$4B to boost prison service …body scanner to detect contraband on the cards

THE National Budget for 2019, which was presented

by Minister of Finance Winston Jordan on Monday, has made provision of $35.6 billion for the security sector, an increase of 14.5 per cent over 2018.

“We spent the year strategising and preparing for a future that minimises the risk of travesties recurring. The safety and happiness of our citizens and the protection of their basic rights are paramount to this government,” Jordon said.

PRISONS Therefore, he said in 2019 government is consolidating and expanding the security sector where the sum of about $4 billion will be expended on maintaining and improving prison services, including a sum of $1.5 billion, which will be dedicated to improving and developing the prison infrastructure, to ease overcrowding and remove the need to use temporary holding areas like the Lusignan Prison facility.

The allocation, the finance minister said, will result in the construction of the new Georgetown Prison, the continued expansion of the Mazaruni Prison Complex, and the commencement of preparatory work for the reconstruction of the New Amsterdam Prison. “We will also procure the requisite equipment, including a body scanner, to detect contraband substances and improve safe-

ty at our prisons.”

Turning his attention to the Guyana Police Force (GPF), Jordan said the focus in the coming year will be on the consolidation of existing facilities and expansion of services to cover larger areas. To better plan and execute its mandate, Jordan said that the GPF has undertaken to harmonise its divisional boundaries with those of the administrative regions in a phased manner, with a view of ensuring that each region has at least one divisional headquarter.

DIVISIONAL HEADQUARTERS In 2019, he said nearly $700 million will be expended to construct and improve police buildings, including the construction of four new divisional headquarters in Regions one, four, five and eight. In addition, about $0.5 billion has been allocated for the expansion of the police vehicular and marine fleets, canine and mounted branches, as well as for the procurement of ballistic, crime scene and other equipment.

Minister Jordan told the National Assembly that the police force is in a better position to deliver on its mandate of serving and protecting the citizens with the substantial increase in its budgetary allocation, acquisition of equipment, refurbishment of police stations, increased training opportunities for all ranks, and the

Finance Minister Winston Jordan during his address to the National Assembly

recruitment of 1,500 since 2015.

and related equipment to test for the presence of narcotics.

CANU Meanwhile, he said that the transnational smuggling of narcotics has forced the administration to divert more resources to combat this scourge. In 2019, he said the Customs Anti-Narcotic Unit (CANU) will intensify its monitoring and intelligence operations, especially at the borders and at hotspots? across the country. Simultaneously, he said that the anti-narcotics programme will include the Forensic Laboratory which is in the process of procuring DNA

FIRE SERVICE As for the Fire Service, Minister Jordan said this service has benefitted from the acquisition of new water tenders and related fire-fighting vehicles. Allocation, he said, has been made, in 2019, for the procurement of four, fully-equipped ambulances and, by the end of the year, the Fire Service‘s emergency medical service (EMS) should be in a position to fully service Region Four, with a response time of about 10 minutes. Further, he said, the EMS rollout is expected

to span through 2021 and expand across Regions Four, Five and Six. GDF For the Guyana Defence Force (GDF), the finance minister said for 2019 government has given increased allocation to assist in the defence of territorial integrity; support the police in the 68 maintenance of law and order as required; and contribute to the economic development of Guyana. “This allocation will see facilities being upgraded at Camp Ayanganna, Timehri, Anna Regina, New Amsterdam, Makouria and Morawhanna, as well as

procurement of equipment and improving the fleet of land and water transport, including the flagship GDF Essequibo,” Minister Jordan noted.

The finance minister said that initiatives supporting direct interventions with citizens will continue, in 2019. Public awareness campaigns, he said will target attitude and behavioural change to prevent inter-personal violence and this will be implemented in targeted communities such as Vreeden-Hoop and Albouystown.

Additionally, the communities of Kildonan/Friendship, Adelphi Canefield, Kilcoy, Angoy‘s Avenue and Sophia will benefit from funding to implement rapid impact projects, including the establishment of facilities to promote interaction, skills training, recreation and social cohesion.

These interventions, Minister Jordan said, are aimed at promoting youth and community development by creating opportunities and a safe space to engage youths on the issues they face, build skills and confidence in communities, and share experiences to effect positive social change.

“The security sector is assured that the Coalition Government will continue to be a pillar of support for their efforts in keeping our country and its citizens safe,” the minister stated.

$1 billion for fiscal transfers; $2.9 billion for 2020 elections GOVERNMENT has set aside $1 billion in the 2019 budget as fiscal transfers to support the operations and community works of the local democratic organs (LDOs) and has earmarked a sum of $2.9 billion for preparation for General and Regional Elections in 2020.

This is according to the minister of finance during his reading of the 2019 national budget in the National

Assembly on Monday.

The minister noted that the low turnout relative to 2016 at Local Government Elections, held on November 12, 2018 serves as an indication to all that much more is needed to restore confidence and awareness in this important form of representation.

“It is our collective hope as a nation that Local Government and General and Regional Elections will con-

tinue to be held when due, so that we can enjoy our right to representation and, as a demonstration of our commitment to democracy,” he said.

Jordan noted that in this regard, approximately $5.4 billion has been allocated to the Guyana Elections Commission, in Budget 2019, “of which $2.9 billion will be dedicated to preparations for the next General and Regional Elections, which

are constitutionally-due by August 2020.”

The minister said that in an effort to build capacity in local government bodies to help them to execute their roles and responsibilities, the government has targeted over 1,000 persons for training in areas such as planning, procurement and financial management. “In 2019, we plan to provide training and skill-building for a further eight NDCs and

one municipality,” said the minister.

With a view to enhance the capacity of local organs in revenue collection, Minister Jordan said that government has agreed to invest $320 million to conduct mass property valuations over an 18-month period – between October 2018 and the first quarter of 2020.

“Following its completion, the updated valuation register will be hand-

ed over to the respective LDOs for their determination and action. This, Mr. Speaker, will mark the first national valuation of properties in decades and will allow the LDOs to improve their revenue base, which will allow them to more effectively serve their communities and provide public services such as roads, street lights, drains and garbage disposal,” said the minister.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Gov’t budgets for ‘smart’ classrooms, more ICT hubs –– for hinterland communities in the new year

THE new year promises to see several remote communities connected to the e-governance network through the installation of information communication telecommunication (ICT) hubs.

Among those communities, said Finance Minister Winston Jordan, are Kaikan, Paruima and Jawalla in Region Seven (CuyuniMazaruni) and Kato in Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni).

He told the National Assembly on Monday during his presentation of the 2019 Budget that the connectivity will be made as part of a wider US$17M access project.

The total budget for the ICT sector in 2019 has been pegged at $4B, and will cover such other projects as the creation of smart classrooms, as well as the provision of heightened security in Georgetown by way of installing closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at strategic points.

What the government proposes doing, he said, is installing about 100 wireless-enabled cameras in and around Georgetown. “These

cameras,” he said, “will feed into a command centre that will be established for the Guyana Police Force.”

And among villages which will benefit from the creation of Internet hubs in 2019 are Phillipai in Region Eight; Rewa, Surama and Toka in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo); and Kimbia and Wiruni in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice).

The cost for connecting these communities has been budgeted at $375M, and see some 11,390 residents benefiting from access to the Internet.

Minister Jordan also told the House that the government will continue to implement its targeted interventions, which are geared at “stimulating innovation, including coding and programming camps, robotics camps, Girls in ICT programme and Hackathons.”

He said that under the foregoing programmes, the youth population will continue to benefit from investments in the ICT sector, as many of them have already begun to demonstrate their

Finance Minister Winston Jordan

affinity for technology and desire to innovate.

Already, he said, young innovators are not only producing 3D-printed prostheses that cost half the price of a comparable product, but also seeding and fertilising rice fields in Berbice with drones.

“And they are developing technology-based applica-

tions for the private sector,” he said.

And from the little it has learnt, he said, the government is convinced that the planned investments in the country’s youth are impactful and must be supported.

Early into his presentation, Minister Jordan told his colleagues in the House

that in the initial phases of the proposed digital transformation, the government will aim its budgetary allocations towards key sectors and services such as health, education and security.

“Already, several hundred public educational institutions have been provided with Internet connectivity,

so that our young people and educators can benefit from improved learning experiences, facilities and outcomes,” he said, adding that in 2019, government will be piloting smart classrooms all across the country in order to deliver smart-education services such as distance learning.

Audio-visual facilities, he said, will aslo be provided for medical practitioners at over 30 health facilities, so they can consult, remotely, with specialists who can offer expert advice and services that are more readily available in the more established hospitals along the coast.

The Finance Minister said transformation of the ICT sector will be accelerated in 2019, with the development of the national broadband infrastructure.

He said that in the medium to long-term, the government aims to connect the general public and government agencies and further expand e-government services.

VAT credits for electricity and water Mr. Speaker, I propose to amend the Income Tax Act to give exporters a tax credit equivalent to the applicable VAT paid in relation to water and electricity, once proven to the satisfaction of the Commissioner General, GRA, that such VAT was charged and paid in relation to the goods manufactured and exported.

REMISSION OF VAT Mr. Speaker, in order to ensure the consistent application of the tax laws, and in keeping with Section 105 of the Income Tax Act – which allows the Minister of Finance to remit income tax – I propose to amend the VAT Act to provide for the Minister of Finance to make regulation to remit, in whole or in part, the

VAT and the interest on VAT payable by any person, where good cause is shown.

TOURISM Mr. Speaker, in Budget 2018, I alluded to the critical nature of the transportation sector in the economy. In recognition of that, the rates of Excise Tax on overland transportation imported for tourism purposes in the interior/rural and riverine areas were reduced, thereby bringing relief to businesses operating in those areas, especially Regions One, Seven, Eight, and Nine. I now propose to add Region 10 to the regions identified to benefit from this concession.

I propose to introduce a tax credit, equal to 75 per

cent of income and corporate taxes payable on profits from tourism activities, for persons investing in Regions One, Seven, Eight, Nine and 10.

I propose to exempt from the payment of import duties and excise taxes, motor buses with twelve (12) or more seats, not exceeding four years old, purchased and used exclusively for the transportation of tourists anywhere in Guyana, and registered and licensed as a tourism operator by the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA). The GTA will also verify that the said operators satisfy the registration and licensing conditions for five years subsequent to receiving any concessions, and all such vehicles will have painted stripes similar to the zoning for minibuses.

Further, Mr. Speaker, hotels in the named regions will benefit from the proposed amendments to the Income Tax Act and the Income Tax (In Aid of Industry) Act that will allow the grant of wear and tear and initial allowances on hotel buildings.

NEW 46-PAGE PASSPORT Mr. Speaker, I wish to announce the introduction of a 46-page, machine readable passport. Business persons and other frequent travellers would find this new passport both attractive and convenient. It is priced at $10,000.

The 32-page passport remains available at the current price of $6,000.

REFUNDS OF

REVENUE Mr. Speaker, as currently obtains, refunds for the overpayment of customs duty and income tax are dependent on resources made available in the budget. In addition to causing unnecessary delays and inconvenience to the taxpayer, it is administratively burdensome for the GRA. I propose, therefore, to amend the Customs Act and the Income Tax Act to allow for the payment of customs duty and income tax refunds to be done out of the Customs Duty revenue and the Income Tax revenue, respectively. Only the net revenue collected for Customs Duty and Income Tax will be paid into the Consolidated Fund. This treatment of refunds is identical to, and consistent with, the payment

of VAT refunds, which is done out of current VAT revenues.

I believe that this new system will reduce the angst and anxiety suffered by taxpayers as a result of the protracted delays in processing refunds.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Mr. Speaker, I propose to amend the relevant sections of the Tax Act, in particular Sections 18, 19, 20, 22, 40, 41, 44, 46, 47, 48, 50 and 54 to include the 10 established towns - Anna Regina, Bartica, Corriverton, Georgetown, Lethem, Linden, Mabaruma, Mahdia, New Amsterdam and Rose Hall – for licence purposes.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

$805M to be refunded to taxpayers …as gov’t lifts income tax threshold to $65,000

SOME $805M will be refunded to taxpayers as government announced the lifting of the income tax threshold from $60,000 to $65,000, Finance Minister Winston Jordan has said.

Speaking during his budget presentation on Monday Jordan said: “Mr. Speaker, I propose to increase the income tax threshold to $780,000 or one-third, whichever is greater, with effect from year of income 2019. This represents a 30 per cent increase in the threshold, since the Coalition Government came to office in 2015, and would see approximately $805 million being returned to taxpayers.”

In addition, Jordan said the wages and salaries of public servants will be increased in 2019, after discussions with the respective unions. “It is our hope that a multi-year package can be concluded that progressively improves workers‘ income to a livable wage over a defined period. Also, we will recommence negotiations

on improving allowances in the public service with the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU).”

EXEMPTIONS FOR PUBLIC OFFICERS/ PUBLIC OFFICIALS Additionally, Jordan announced that vehicles less than 4 years old currently pay zero per cent, up to 1,499 cc, and 10 per cent, up to 2,000 cc. However, qualifying public officials pay 10 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively for these two categories of vehicles. This is more than the rate specified in law for regular imports without exemption. “I propose, therefore, to amend the Excise Tax Regulations to remove this anomaly and ensure consistency with the applicable law,” Jordan said.

REMIGRANTS Regarding remigrants, he said the current remigrant system is flawed and has led to abuse on a number of occasions. In order to ensure compliance, minimise, if not eliminate, the abuse, while

simplifying the process, I propose the following: A system of credits up to a limit of $5 million for vehicles imported by a remigrant. With this system, a remigrant can bring as many vehicles as he/she wishes. For example, suppose a remigrant brings in three vehicles, with an assessed value of $20 million. Then the remigrant will be credited with a tax free allowance up to a value of $5 million, and would be required to pay all applicable taxes on the balance of $15 million.

The removal of the sixmonth overseas ownership allows the remigrant the option of purchasing the vehicle locally, within six months of his/her arrival. This would be advantageous to the remigrant who lived in a country where driving is on the right, as opposed to Guyana, where it is on the left.

Returning students who have completed at least three years of continuous study be eligible for remigrant status.

The granting of remigrant

status will continue to be determined by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration.

SUPPORT FOR THE ELDERLY, DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES On the issue of the elderly, the minister proposed to increase the Old Age Pension from$19,500 to $20,500. “At the same time, I proposed to increase Public Assistance from $8,000 to $9,000. This brings it to 55 per cent and 53 per cent respectively, the increases granted to these two categories since the government came to office. Both increases, which take effect from January 1, 2019, will see persons taking home an additional $800 million, in 2019.”

“Mr. Speaker, many former public servants, Members of Parliament and other categories of workers, who retired prior to 1992, have approached me with a view of doing something about their pensions, which were decimated as a result of re-

peated devaluations in the 1980s and early 1990s. They have indicated that they are getting on in age and wish for the government to bring urgent relief to them. I want to assure those persons that the matter is under active consideration.”

DUTY-FREE VEHICLES FOR DIFFERENTLY-ABLED “Mr. Speaker, with a view of ameliorating the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities, I propose to exempt from Excise Duty and VAT, vehicles for use by persons with disabilities or vehicles that will be converted for their use.

Such vehicles must be able either to be driven by the disabled person, or designed for such a person.

Second, Mr. Speaker, the government will examine the feasibility of granting a tax rebate on handsets with accessibility features for persons living with disabilities. This will allow Guyanese who are visually-and hearing-impaired to afford a smartphone.

In order to avoid abuse, the exemptions would be granted, after the commission representing persons with disabilities certifies that the person, the vehicle and the handset are eligible for the concessions. These two initiatives solidify government‘s commitment to equity and inclusion for all its citizens through the use of ICT,” the minister said.

$64,000 new minimum wage in public service THE coalition has raised the minimum basic salary in the public service to $64,000, which reflected a progressive increase since the administration took office.

Touching on incomes, during his budget presentation on Monday, Minister of Finance Winston Jordan told the House that after protracted negotiations, the government was able to ink a three year agreement, 2016-2018, with the Guyana Teachers‘ Union (GTU). For 2018, the Memorandum of Agreement will see teachers receiving two percentage points above the increases granted in 2016 (payable in January 2019), no further increases for 2017 than those previously granted, and an 8 per cent acrossthe-board increase in salary, effective January 1, 2018.

Government plans to honour the remaining measures of the agreement, in 2019, Jordan said.

He also officially announced the increases in pub-

lic servants salaries which ranged from seven percent to 0.5 per cent. The government has also raised the minimum basic salary for each public servant to $64,200 per month.

Jordan had previously acknowledged that since 2017, the government has had to grapple with financial challenges that have stymied the payment of year-end bonuses, “However, we have paid salary increases beyond the “five percent”, such that the minimum wage has rapidly increased by nearly 52 percent in two years, from $39,570, in 2015, to $60,000, in 2017. It took the PPP/C administration nine years to move the minimum wage by a similar percentage, or from $26,070, in 2006 to $39,570, in 2015. All workers can expect salary increases going forward, especially in 2018, 2019 and 2020.”

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Budget measures for Private Sector

FINANCE Minister, Winston Jordan unveiled a range of measures to help the private sector here during the presentation of the $300.7B 2019 budget in the National Assembly on Monday.

GOLD AND DIAMOND MINERS WITHHOLDING TAX, FINAL TAX Mr. Speaker, in Budget 2018, I announced a series of measures designed to simplify the tax regime applicable to the gold and diamond sector. Specifically, I indicated an intention to amend Section 33 (E) (1) of the Income Tax Act to allow for the tax to be assessed based on a sliding scale, and that such a tax would be a final tax on income from gold mining activities. Unfortunately, the law did not make this explicit. I now propose to amend the law to treat as a final tax, the tax assessed on income derived from gold mining activities. It will also be made clear that this final tax relates only to declarations made to the Guyana Gold Board; that the income must be from individual gold mining and not from the sale of gold or the rental of blocks; that income from other sources are excluded from this tax treatment.

GOV’T SLASHES INCOME, CORPORATE TAXES FOR SMALL BUSINESSES In Budget 2018, Jordan said that many small businesses do not make full use of the concessions available under the various Tax Acts, the Small Business Act and those offered through Investment Development Agreements (IDAs). Small businesses, as defined in the Small Business Act, are usually taxed at the respective individual and corporate tax rates. In keeping with government‘s recognition of the role small businesses play in adding value and employment in the country, I propose to reduce the income and corporate tax rates to 25 per cent on taxable profits. To benefit from this reduction, the business must be registered with the Small Business Bureau, and be involved in either manufacturing or construction activities. We estimate that this measure will cost

$120 million.

NON-COMMERCIAL COMPANIES Jordan said that in 2017, the non-commercial or manufacturing rate was reduced from 30 per cent to 27.5 per cent. This enabled these businesses to improve their profit margins, thereby allowing for new investment and capitalisation. He said that following visits to several businesses, and in an effort to boost activities in the sector, he proposes to further reduce the manufacturing and non-commercial rate to 25 per cent, with effect from Year of Income January 1, 2019.

This measure, which keeps a promise by Government to reduce the manufacturing rate to 25 per cent before the end of our first term, will cost $1.1 billion.

Property Tax – Individual and Companies In an effort to restore equity and consistency in the tax regime between individuals and companies, and to further reduce the burden of Property Tax and Capital Gains Tax, I propose the following: An increase in the threshold for filing a return for: individuals, from the current net property of $1.5 million to $40 million; and for companies, from $0.5 million to $40 million.

A reduction in the current rate for both individuals and companies, from 0.75 per cent to 0.5 per cent for the first $20 million in taxable net property, and the remainder being taxed at 0.75 percent.

By way of example, two persons A and B, have net property of $38 million and $105 million, respectively. Individual A will not be required to file a Property Tax return, since he is under the threshold of $40 million. However, Company B will have to file a return and pay Property Tax as follows: taxable net property: $105 million - $40 million = $65 million. Tax payable on first $20 million = $100,000. Tax payable on balance of $45 million = $337,500. Total taxes payable = $437,500. Under the new measure, Individual A saves $285,000 while Company B saves $346,250.

The revenue loss from this measure is estimated to be $100 million.

Capital Gains Tax Mr. Speaker, households who sell their homes and invest in newer dwellings are still subject to Capital Gains Tax. I propose to exempt from the payment of Capital Gains Tax the proceeds from the sale of a house which is reinvested in another home of equal or greater value, during the said year of assessment or within 60 days of the end of

the year in which the property is sold. The revenue loss is estimated to be $200 million.

In addition, Mr. Speaker, in recognition of inflation through the years, I propose to increase the threshold for Capital Gains Tax arising from the disposal of property from $1,000 to $500,000.

The revenue loss is expected to exceed $102 million.

Also, Mr. Speaker, in

light of the wear and tear allowance given to buildings used for service and warehousing, and property tax valuations being updated to the 01/01/2011 market value, I propose the removal of the 25-year limitation. This means that Capital Gains Tax will be applicable on the gains accrued between the 2011 valuation or the date of acquisition, if later, and

the selling price of the property when assets are disposed of, regardless of the date of acquisition.

These three measures are contemplated to be revenue neutral, in view of the fact that the 2011 market value of assets are realistically closer TURN TO PAGE

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Measures in support of our 'green' agenda

IN its continued thrust to build a ‘green’ economy, government has proposed a range of tax incentives for companies utilising alternate energy technologies; renewable energy options, such as gasifiers to use biomass; and harnessing renewable energy through wind, solar and water elements.

Among the measures are: Change the Wear and Tear Schedule of the Income Tax Act to allow for the write off of capital expense within two years; and two, Waive import duties and VAT on new equipment.

These additional measures, which are effective from January 1, 2019, build on those announced in Budget 2017 and Budget

2018. In addition, hybrid and electric vehicles were exempted in Budget 2017, from the payment of Excise Tax. Government now proposes: To amend the Customs Act to include relief from customs duty for cars

with a capacity equivalent to 2000 cc in Watts.

To amend Part III B(i) of the First Schedule to the Customs Act and Schedule Two of the VAT Act to exempt change-over kits and to waive the Excise Tax on all

electric motor cycles.

If the vehicles are modified within two years of entering Guyana, to accommodate gasoline or diesel, the full duties and taxes would become payable.

Budget measures for ...

FROM PAGE

to the current 2017 market value.

Wear and Tear Allowance for Service and Warehouse Buildings Mr. Speaker, changes to the capital allowances‘structure have been a subject of discussions between the business community, accountants and the Ministry of Finance for some time now.

It is argued that Guyana has neglected to recognise that buildings suffer from Wear and Tear, not only by housing machinery but also by warehousing and providing services. As such, I propose to amend Section 17 of the Income Tax Act to provide for an allowance for wear and tear on any building used for services and warehousing purposes. The schedule provided in the Income Tax (Depreciation Rates) Regulations made under Section 117 would be amended to include buildings (used for services and warehousing purposes) and the rate proposed is two per cent on cost.

I also propose to amend Part II of the Income Tax in Aid of Industry Act, to allow for an initial allowance on buildings used for services and warehousing purposes.

This means that not only manufacturing companies will benefit, but also hotels and any industry that produces value that is primarily intangible, such as customer service, management, advice, knowledge, design, data and experiences. This

measure will cost over $400 million, annually. However, this will again increase after tax profits in the hands of the beneficiaries.

EXPORT ALLOWANCE Mr. Speaker, the law provides for the Export Allowance to be claimed by exporters of non-traditional products to markets outside of CARICOM. The rationale was to provide an incentive to boost exports to markets where receipts were in a tradeable currency, such as the US dollar, as distinct from CARICOM, where payments were settled in soft currency such as the Barbadian or Trinidad and Tobago dollar. This situation has diminished substantially.

Therefore, I propose to extend the export allowance to exporters of non-traditional products who are paid in a recognised tradable currency.

The cost to the economy in tax dollars will be $300 million. However, this should be counter balanced by the increased exports of non-traditional products and increased hard currency receipts.

EXEMPTION FROM CUSTOMS DUTY, EXCISE TAX AND VAT Mr. Speaker, I propose to make the following amendments to the Customs Duty, Excise Tax Act and Value Added Tax Act: Reduction of the Excise Tax charged on Shandy and other beverages containing

less than one percent alcohol by volume, from $126 per litre to $65 per litre. The revenue foregone is $37 million.

Reduction in the Excise Tax charged on indigenous wines and other fermented beverages that are manufactured using 100 per cent local inputs, from $150 per litre to $65 per litre. The revenue loss is $128 million.

New regime for taxing tobacco consisting of a combination of ad valorem and specific taxes as follows: the imposition of a specific Excise Tax of $2,500 per 1,000 sticks, together with Customs Duty of 100 percent and VAT of 14 percent. In addition to reducing smuggling and simplifying administration, the new regime should result in a net increase in revenue of $50 million.

Exemption of pesticides used in the agriculture sector from Custom Duty and VAT. The revenue loss is $3.2 million.

Exemption of limestone used in the agriculture sector from Customs Duty. The revenue loss is $4.2 million.

Exemption from VAT, aircraft engines and main components/parts Exemption from VAT, concrete blocks used for housing and construction.

This follows the exemption from VAT on complete housing units up to $6.5 million, which formed part of the measures in Budget 2018.

Together, these measures will propel the housing drive, as

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Government seeks to make available decent and affordable homes to the population.

Exemption from VAT, equipment and chemicals for water treatment and production plants Exemption from VAT, orthopedic appliances and artificial parts of the body. (All items contained in the First Schedule to the Customs Act under Tariff Heading No. 90.21, being orthopedic appliances, including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances, artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other appliances which are worn or carried or implanted in the body, to compensate for a defect or disability), and artificial teeth and others.

Exemption from VAT, Educational Robot Kits, in order to boost the ?Reading & Robotics? programme targeted to children in communities all across Guyana; to encourage more young people to become avid readers; and to develop necessary soft skills like communication, collaboration and conflict resolution.

Exemption from VAT, boats used in rural and riverain areas designed for the transport of goods and persons not exceeding 7.08 cubic metres (250 cubic feet). The Import Duty of five per cent will also be waived.

Government revenue projected at 216.9 B by December 31, 2018 …VAT collections expected to be 14.3 per cent higher than 2017 The Government of Guyana is expecting total revenue collection to be in the order of $216.9 billion by the end of 2018.

This is according to Minister of Finance Winston Jordan, who presented the 2019 National Budget in the National Assembly on Monday.

The minister, during his speech, said that in 2018, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) was restructured to place additional focus on “better serving large tax payers, strengthening the regional tax offices, as well as, compliance-related activities.” The minister said that these measures together with the nine-month tax amnesty, which ended in September 2018, are expected to increase tax revenue collections to $199.5 billion, $28.3 billion over 2017.

“Higher collections of withholding tax, excise tax, personal income tax and value-added tax (VAT), by 36.7 per cent, 21.0 per cent, 19.3 per cent and 14.3 per cent, respectively, are projected to contribute to this improved performance,” Minister JorFROM PAGE

dan announced. “Taxes from international trade transactions, including import and export duties and travel taxes, are projected to rise to $3.3 billion, 20.5 per cent above the 2017 revenue collection,” said Minister Jordan.

He said that for 2018, non-tax revenues are anticipated to reach $17.4 billion, driven by receipts of $4.0 billion from rent and royalties and $3.4 billion of transfers from statutory agencies. He noted that additionally, dividends of $1.2 billion from public enterprises, $3.3 billion from Bank of Guyana profits and $300 million from the Lotto, account have been received and transferred to the Consolidated Fund.

The minister said, too, that in 2018, the GRA is anticipated to remit about $73 billion, up from $49.2 billion, in 2017. “This upsurge is mostly associated with remissions related to investments within the petroleum, sector, as evidenced by the 74.2 per cent rise in remissions to companies and businesses,” the minister said.

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VAT credits for ...

Increased years for driver’s licence I propose to amend the Motor Vehicle and Road Traffic Act to increase the duration of a driver‘s licence from three years to five years, and a small increase in the fee from $4,000 to $5,000.

In keeping with prior amendments, pensioners will not pay any fee for a passport.

The longer duration will allow for the freeing of human and other resources, which will be devoted to the critical oil and gas area.

I propose to amend Section 60A of the Income Tax Act to reduce the cost of reprint/replacement of a TIN certificate from $5,000 to $2,000. The cost for a TIN certificate for a first time applicant would remain at $1,000.

I propose to amend the relevant section of the Income Tax Act to bring greater clarity to the definition of - contractor, for the purpose of deducting the two per cent withholding tax.

I propose to amend the First Schedule of the Tax Act to include the profession of Tax Preparer, to allow for

a tax practice certificate to be issued to persons who, in the opinion of the Commissioner General, are so qualified to offer accounting and tax services to taxpayers.

A registered Tax Return Preparer who is not a member of a recognised accounting body, will be required to pass a competency test covering such issues as taxation, preparation of individuals‘ tax returns, and ethics.

I propose to amend the Income Tax Act to remove the requirement for the Commissioner General to send Notices of Assessment to taxpayers whose liability is less than $1,000. This would reduce the cost and administrative burden of printing and posting these Notices of Assessment. At the same time, the law will also be amended to provide for the service of Notices of Assessment either by e-services, regular post or registered post.

Mr. Speaker, altogether, these measures will result in a net loss of revenue of $3.5 billion, which will clearly redound to the benefit of the taxpayers.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

GCCI welcomes, commends Budget 2019 –pensioners, persons with disabilities also voice their approval

By Navendra Seoraj THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has said it’s pleased with the proposed 2019 Budget which was presented by Minister of Finance, Winston Jordan in the National Assembly on Monday.

Budget 2019, which was presented under the theme “Transforming the Economy, Empowering People, Building Sustainable Communities for the Good Life”, is the fifth to date for the coalition A Partnership for National Unity and Alliance for Change (APNU/AFC) Government.

Stakeholders such as the GCCI believe that the $300.7B budget has encapsulated almost everything that was discussed during the budget consultation process.

“I am happy that our areas which we told the minister about have been taken into consideration, specifically the reduction in taxes regarding the aviation in-

dustry, pesticides and limestone,” said GCCI Executive Director, Richard Rambarran when asked to comment.

He said that the government has also placed emphasis on infrastructural development projects, as per discussion prior to the presentation of the budget.

The government has allocated $38.5B to the expansion and maintenance of infrastructure, principally in light of the emergence of oil and gas, as well as the expansion and diversification of non-petroleum assets.

“I am particularly happy about plans for farm-to-market access roads and such…

And government also made reference to some of those things we explicitly asked for,” Rambarran said, adding that despite the high points in the budget, there are still some disappointments.

A MAJOR CONCERN One of the major concerns for the GCCI, he said, is that nothing was done to alleviate the cost of fuel.

He not only contends that fuel has been “eating away” at the private sector’s ability to invest, but that high fuel prices have also caused major problems for public enterprises.

He, however, feels that one way of remedying the situation is for the government to consider reducing the excise tax on fuel.

But in spite of the foregoing and a few other shortfalls, the government came in for high praise for being able to “marry” their monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate growth of the economy.

Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Guyana, Sydney Armstrong said the government has used money supply as a measure to drive economic growth, essentially lowering interest rates to get higher levels of investment.

The supply of money and quasi-money, Armstrong said, is expected to increase by 5.3 per cent at the end of 2018, while the amount of money in the economy is

GCCI Executive Director, Richard Rambarran

anticipated to grow to approximately $386.5B, with all monetary aggregates projected to expand in 2018.

“This is stimulating aggregate demand and growing the economy; this is a measure, in addition to their fiscal policy, which is geared towards growing the economy,” Armstrong said, adding that the overall budget was good.

RAISING TAX THRESHOLD In addition to the overall

Court throws out wife killer’s appeal –seeking pardon, or lesser sentence

HAYDOCK Baxter who stabbed and killed his wife in 2006, on Monday appeared before Chancellor of the Judiciary, Justice Yonette Cummings at the Court of Appeal, pleading against the severity of sentence.

The 57-year-old man, who was unrepresented, told the court on Monday afternoon what he was seeking was a pardon or a lesser sentence.

The man was initially charged in October 2006 for the murder of his wife, Carol Baxter, but pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to the lesser count of manslaughter when the matter was called in June 2014.

The prosecution accepted his plea to the lesser count, and he was later sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

Arguing against his appeal, Attorney Mercedes Glasford of the Director of Public Prosecution said that the State would respectfully impose their application, on the grounds that the sentence imposed by the trial judge was not manifestly excessive.

She argued that the honourable court would have spoken at length regarding the guidelines that should be followed by a trial judge when

sentencing, and these guidelines were complied with to the letter.

She also contended that the trial judge would have had before her Baxter’s probation report, and the plea of mitigation made on his behalf minutes before the sentence was passed.

Said the State attorney, “The facts of this case would have indicated that the deceased would have went to the Camp Street prison to visit her son.

“While she was waiting to give him his meals, the accused would have come up to her and told her he wanted them to leave to conduct some business, and she said she would prefer to wait until she would have given her son his meals.

“Her refusal to comply seemed to have angered the accused, and he would have retrieved a knife and stabbed her three times.”

Glasford recalled that after the incident occurred, Baxter attempted to flee but was apprehended.

She said that given the gravity of the offence and the circumstance under which it took place, this being in a public place, the court should not intervene or be inclined to reduce the sentence, as it cannot be deemed excessive, and the right

principles were utilised in arriving at the decision.

With the sentence starting at 30 years, the judge took off two for the guilty plea and eight for the time that he had already spent in prison.

“The learned trial judge would have considered all these matters before passing sentence and she would have rightfully come to the decision of sentencing the accused to 20 years in prison.

“As such, the state respectfully submits that this accused shouldn’t be dismissed based on the fact that there is really no merit to this ground of appeal,” Glasford argued.

Court was adjourned for a 15-minute recess following which the Chancellor returned with a decision.

Her Honour said that the trial judge having exercised her discretion and the prosecution accepted a plea to the lesser count of manslaughter, the subsequent sentencing was less than the usual imposed on such nature of crime, and the methodology used to derive at the sentence was properly utilised.

As such, Baxter’s plea was dismissed by the presiding judges, Justices Cummings, Brassington Reynolds, and Rishi Persaud.

fiscal and monetary policies, he commended the government for raising the income tax threshold to $65,000, and placing emphasis on provisions for persons living with disabilities.

With a view of ameliorating the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities, the government has proposed to exempt from Excise Duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) vehicles for use by persons with disabilities or vehicles that will be converted for their use.

Such vehicles must be able either to be driven by the disabled person, or designed for such a person.

The government also proposes to examine the feasibility of granting a tax rebate on handsets with accessibility features for persons living with disabilities, so as to allow those who suffer from visual and hearing impairments to use a smartphone.

Said Cion Rollox, who is visually impaired, “I welcome these things in the budget; there are a

lot of good things in terms of programmes for us, but I believe instead of reducing tax on smartphones, they should have provided us with the smartphones. But I will accept it.”

Rollox also welcomed the $1,000 increase in public assistance, though he believes it could have been a bit more.

The older folks also have something to be grateful for, especially since the old age pension has been increased from $19,500 to $20,500.

Pansy Ashton, a pensioner, said the money is enough to cover such expenses as food and bills, but she is hoping for something more in the next budget.

“I feel good; pension guh up since de government come in. And I know it gone guh up mo’ next time,” she said.

H e r c o l l e a g u e , M r.

Green (only name given) said that pensioners now have a livable pension, which will increase as time goes by.

Three held with guns, ‘ammo’

The guns and ‘ammo’ and “paste on” car tags the suspects had in their possession

TING on a tip-off, police ranks on Monday afternoon arrested three men in a silver- grey Toyota Premio with two firearms and matching ammunition on Princes Street in the city.

They also recovered a pair of car tags with the registration number PRR 4987.

Reports are that the arrest was made at around 17:00hrs on Princes and High Streets near the Infiniti Gas Station.

The vehicle in which the men were arrested, bearing registration number HC 5573, was being driven by a South Sophia taxi driver, while his accomplices were said to be a miner of South Amelia’s Ward in Linden, and a West Ruimveldt taxi

driver.

Reports are that while a search of the men’s person yielded nothing, a search of the motorcar in their presence unearthed two firearms, one of which was a black-and-silver 9mm pistol with its serial number filed out, and a magazine of 12 rounds of matching ammunition.

The other gun was a black .32 Taurus pistol with a magazine of seven matching rounds of ammunition.

Both guns were reportedly wrapped in a black vest under the driver’s seat of the car.

After the find, all three suspects were escorted to the Ruimveldt Police Station where they were placed in custody.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Growth projected for construction, manufacturing sectors …mining curtailed due to low gold declarations THE mining and quarrying sector is projected to contract by 2.3 per cent this year despite remarkable growth expectations for the bauxite and other mining sub-sectors, Finance Minister, Winston Jordan said on Monday.

The expected expansion in the mining sector is anticipated to be curtailed by a decline in gold declarations by small and medium scale miners, who accounted for over 64 per cent of all declarations, in 2017. As a result, gold declaration will contract by 13.1 per cent, in

2018, despite an expected expansion in the declarations of large scale miners by 4.3 per cent.

“Mr. Speaker, the bauxite industry is projected to grow by 26.3 per cent, in 2018. However, uncertainty still surrounds the fate of Rusal‘s operations in Guyana, with the US extending the sanctions deadline to December 2018. Other mining is also expected to expand in 2018, by 46.6 per cent, driven by growth in the declaration of diamonds, sand and stone, with the increase in the latter two due to an

‘Cuss-bird’ lawyer to soon stand trial A DATE is soon to be set for the commencement of trial against Attorney-at-law Ryan Crawford, who is charged with a series of traffic-related offences, including verbally assaulting a police officer.

The charges reportedly stem from an altercation between Crawford and a young policeman during a routine “Stop-and-Search” exercise on September 13 on the Yorkshire Public Road, in Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The confrontation was captured on a video that went viral on social media, showing Crawford verbally abusing the policeman who was requesting to see his documents.

Crawford was subsequently hauled before the court on five charges, namely: Prohibition of Tinted Glass; Failure to Produce Driver’s Licence; Driving an

Attorney-at-law Ryan Crawford

Unfit Motor Vehicle; Use of Obscene Language; and (5) Riotous Behaviour.

He is currently out on self-bail after denying all of the charges, and is expected to appear before Magistrate Peter Hugh at the Mahaica Magistrate Court tomorrow, when he will know what date has been set for the commencement of trial into the matters.

Eight policemen under close arrest –– on suspicion of stealing aviation keepsakes

EIGHT police band members have been placed under close arrest in connection with the disappearance of several model planes from the Arthur Chung Convention Centre.

The theft reportedly occurred during the recent International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)’s Air Transport Meeting.

The Guyana Police

Force, in response to an article in Monday’s edition of the Kaieteur News headlined, “Police band members steal model planes during Air Transport cocktail” said that a thorough investigation is underway by ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department Headquarters, and that a case file has since been sent for legal advice.

expansion in construction,” Jordan told the House during his budget presentations.

However, Jordan said the manufacturing sector is expected to grow by 0.9 per cent, in 2018, driven by a 5.2 per cent increase in manufacturing activities outside of rice and sugar.

This outturn is attributable to expected increases in

the output of food items, beverages, building materials, and pharmaceuticals, among others. Additionally, Jordan said the over the last few years Guyana’s skyline has evolved considerably.

This is evident by the many developments across the breadth of Guyana. “This year, we expect to continue to see remarkable growth

in the construction sector, driven by both public and private sector investments.

By the end of 2018, this sector is projected to grow by 12 per cent.”

“Mr. Speaker, for yet another year, our services sector is set to expand, this time by 4.1 per cent.

The 6.2 per cent growth in wholesale and retail trade, by the end of 2018, would be indicative of continued positive consumer

sentiment. Additionally, other service activities are anticipated to increase by 15.0 per cent, spurred by increased visitor arrivals that are linked to events such as national celebrations, sports, conferences, expositions and oil and gas activities. The latter is also expected to be partly responsible for projected growth of 7.5 per cent in rental of dwellings.

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Mayor takes Town Clerk (Ag) to task

–– for deceiving council on matters of import SENIOR officers of the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) admitted recently, under pressure from city councillors, that no contract is in place between the municipality and contractors who are conducting massive works on the canal along the Avenue of the Republic.

Acting Town Clerk Sharon Harry had led the Council to believe that a written contract is in place between the two parties, but later offered two other explanations, this being that the contract is in the Council’s budget, and that it was a verbal one.

This led City Mayor Patricia Chase-Green to blurt out: “Harry! Don’t play this Council with words this afternoon; don’t do it!” The setting was around the horseshoe table where councillors were gathered at the most recent statutory meeting.

The City Council had contracted a number of trucks to remove silt from the canal at reference, but it has been weeks now since such works were halted because of City Hall’s failure to pay the contractors.

The mayor asked to see the project document from which City Engineer Colvern

Venture was working, and Councillor Sherod Duncan on two occasions tried to clarify whether or not there was a written document, since a contract is not a project document.

But Harry kept insisting, “There is a contract,” until, after much back and forth, Venture left the meeting on the pretext of going to find the document.

He would later admit that there was no formal contract between the parties, except for a project document that was done by his department indicating costs, the hiring of trucks and other details.

Venture further admitted that the municipality does not usually do contracts for works like the hiring of equipment because of the amount of time the process takes. He said that verbal agreements are entered into, and the most reasonable person is selected.

At that point, Harry, on the advice of the mayor, withdrew her statement that there was a contract in place.

According to Councillor Heston Bostwick, written documents should be in place as long as the Council has to spend any kind of money.

“It is unacceptable for us to

Acting Town Clerk, Sharon Harry

Mayor Patricia Chase-Green

accept this,” he said, adding that the administration insists that councillors do contracts for every project that has to be undertaken in their constituency.

Councillor Gregory Fraser felt that as an expert in his field, the city engineer should have known the cost for the work off the top of his head, and should have had all the other details at his fingertips without having to leave to consult a document.

Councillor Bishram Kuppen said it was alarming that the municipality acted in such an ad hoc manner; that as far as he knew, contracts need to be written out with anyone doing business with the council.

Deputy City Engineer Kenson Boston said that as of late, the drainage channel along the Avenue of the Republic is of prime importance, because it helps to drain off water not just from the Bourda district, but from Lacytown and Church Street as well. This channel is also connected to Queenstown, Alberttown and Water Street, and affects the South Road and Croal Street channels which also encompass Brickdam, all the way back to Lodge.

“This is a very important channel which has a large capacity to hold water,” Boston said.

New wells for Lusignan, Fryrish, Farm –– gov’t also reaches out to private sector to partner in housing drive NEW wells are earmarked for three locations along the Coastland, while the expansion of water supply projects will see residents of several areas receiving potable water for the first time.

Minister of Finance Winston Jordan announced Monday that government has budgeted $2.9B for the improvment of potable water supply and distribution to the citizenry.

The three wells he spoke of are to be dug at Lusignan on the East Coast Demerara, Fyrish on the Corentyne, and Farm on the East Bank Essequibo (EBE). Monies have been budgeted also for the completion of wells at Vergenoegen, EBE, and Pouderoyen and Westminster on the West Bank Demerara, while residents at Sandvoort, West Canje Berbice are set to benefit from the expansion of the New Amsterdam Water Treatment Plant Project.

The communities of Capoey, Hill Top and Mainstay, on the Essequibo Coast, will

enjoy improved levels of service from the expansion of transmission mains.

Minister Jordan said that expansions to the water supply on the East Bank Demerara as well as at the Parika and Ruby backdams on the East Bank Essequibo will result in thousands of residents benefitting from access to potable water for the first time. “These projects,” he said, “will complement our housing and agriculture sector-related efforts in those areas.”

PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERSHIP He also announced that as the demand for housing grows across the country, the government is reaching out to the private sector to partner in its efforts to fulfill its housing drive. “We invite the private sector, either individually or in partnership with the government, to contribute to the alleviation of the growing demand for housing,” he said.

The sum of $780M, he said, has been earmarked in the 2019 Budget for various housing-related projects, among them the procurement and installation of 100 LED street lamps, the upgrading of roads, and the installation of utilities. He also noted that the government has commenced discussions with its development partners to secure more financing to undertake new housing developments across the country.

He said that in 2019, a key area of focus for the government will be the hinterland areas, whereby the sum of $170M has been budgeted for disbursal as housing and roof replacement subsidies in such areas.

An additional $750M has been allocated for the commencement of the Adequate Housing and Urban Accessibility (AHUA) programme, which will see the construction of “core houses” for single family households and families living in uninhabitable homes, home improvement and the consolidation

of existing housing schemes.

Last month, the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) reported that some 2,500 citizens in low-income communities will benefit from improved housing conditions, whereby 250 families will receive free “core homes”, while others will benefit from improved housing infrastructure.

The AHUA programme is being made possible by the government through a US$30M loan from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The programme commenced in 2018, and will run for five years, targeting such West Bank Demerara communities as Recht Door Zee, La Parfaite Harmonie, Westminster and Lust-enRust, and Onderneeming on the Eassequibo Coast.

It will also be implemented in southern Georgetown up to Diamond-Grove and on the East Coast Demerara up to La Bonne Intention (LBI).

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

FROM BACK PAGE

Nationals 2018

District 6 staves off...

By Michelangelo Jacobus ON day two of the 58 th National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships, District 6 (Corentyne) narrowly retained their cycling title after a strong performance from their athletes helped stave off a stern challenge from District 10 (Upper Demerara/ Kwakwani).

Despite a tardy start at the National Park, the cyclists treated the small crowd to a day of thrilling action under fair weather conditions. When the unofficial results were revealed, District 6 had tallied up 245 points, just 8 ahead of District 10 who had 237 points.

Those two districts were some way ahead of their closets rivals, District 15 (New Amsterdam), who were in third position on 130 points.

Ajay Gopilall, David Hicks and Shabina Ramoo were some of Corentyne’s most consistent performers, along with their fellow District 6 athletes who all pitched in to ensure that at the end of the day, District 6 had unofficially won the title for the second consecutive year.

H o w e v e r, D i s t r i c t 10’s challenge was spearheaded by Oneal Rose and Abigail Jeffrey who copped commanding wins to launch their District’s challenge.

Rose won Gold in the 5000M Boys Open, 800M Boys Open and 1000M Boys Open races while Jef-

frey, who had won the Girls 25Km road race on Sunday, added Gold to her name in the 3000M Girls Open and 400M Girls Open. She also copped silver in the 800M Girls Open.

The day’s action saw some thrilling encounters, especially in the 1500M events. First, Denzil Huntley (District 10) edged District 6’s Ralph Seenarine to cop Gold in the Boys Open event while District 14’s Roy Wilson had to settle for Bronze.

On the distaff side of the 1500M Open event, Maria Carrington (District 7) was the surprise package as she convincingly beat Shabina Ramoo (District 6) to Gold while District 10’s Crystal Hutson had to settle for Silver.

The unofficial points standing is as follows: District 6 (Corentyne) – 245; District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) – 237; District 15 (New Amsterdam) – 130; District 13 (South Georgetown) – 114; District 11 (North Georgetown) – 93; District 4 (East Coast Demerara) – 78; District 3 (West Demerara) – 75; District 14 (East Bank Demerara) – 61; District 7 (Bartica) – 42; and District 8 (Potaro/Siparuni) – 20. *Districts 1, 2, 9 and 12 had no points.

The National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships which is in its 58 th year will continue today and over the next four days at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora on the West Coast of Demerara with just about 1500 student and teacher athletes competing against each other for top honours.

District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) won their second consecutive and 16th overall title last year while South Georgetown (District 13) finished second and North Georgetown (District 11) third.

27

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

England sweep series after brave Sri Lanka resistance COLOMBO (Reuters) England overcame spirited late resistance from the hosts to seal a first 3-0 series sweep in Sri Lanka when the tourists wrapped up a 42-run victory shortly after tea on the fourth day of the third and final Test on Monday.

Chasing an improbable 327-run target, Sri Lanka’s last six batsmen combined well to get to within less than 50 runs of what would have been a remarkable triumph after they resumed on 53 for four at the Sinhalese Sports Club.

Kusal Mendis (86) and Roshen Silva (65) set the tone with a dogged 102-run sixth-wicket stand in an exemplary display of defiance spread over 30 overs as Sri Lanka sought to end a disappointing series on a high.

After Mendis was run out, Malinda Pushpakumara (42 not out) survived a sickening blow to the helmet to add 58 runs with Suranga Lakmal for the final wicket to give England some jitters before the tourists secured victory in the first over after tea.

“I’m proud of everyone,” England captain Joe Root said. “Brilliant performance from the whole squad, it’s been a real team effort which has made it even sweeter.”

England moved to num-

SCOREBOARD ENGLAND 1ST innings 336; Sri Lanka 1st innings 240 England 2nd innings Rory Burns lbw Dilruwan Perera 7 Keaton Jennings lbw Dilruwan Perera 1 Jonny Bairstow c (Sub) b Dilruwan Perera 15 Joe Root c&b Malinda Pushpakumara 7 Ben Stokes c Malinda Pushpakumara b Dilruwan Perera 42 Jos Buttler st Niroshan Dickwella b Lakshan Sandakan 64 Moeen Ali c Dhananjaya de Silva b Lakshan Sandakan 22 Ben Foakes Not Out 36 Adil Rashid c Niroshan Dickwella b Malinda Pushpakumara 24 Stuart Broad c Kusal Mendis b Malinda Pushpakumara 1 Jack Leach c Niroshan Dickwella b Dilruwan Perera 0 Extras: 3b 4lb 3nb 0pen 1w 11 Total: (69.5 overs) 230 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-3 Jennings, 2-20 Burns, 3-35 Bairstow, 4-39 Root, 5-128 Stokes, 6-168 Buttler, 7-171 Ali, 8-215 Rashid, 9-217 Broad, 10230 Leach Bowling: Dilruwan Perera 29.5 - 3 - 88 - 5, Malinda Pushpakumara 12 - 2 - 28 - 3, Dhananjaya de Silva 9 - 1 - 24 - 0, Suranga Lakmal 3 - 1 - 7 - 0 (1w 1nb) Lakshan Sandakan 16 - 1 - 76 - 2 (2nb)

England have won eight of their past nine Tests

ber two, behind India, in the world test rankings after a victory on foreign soil Root hoped would lead to further success.

“We knew we’re capable of winning in these conditions but to do it the way we have and to perform as consistently as we have is a real improvement for this group of players,” he said.

“It shows the learning and the ability within the squad and hopefully we can use it now as springboard to move forward.”

England looked on course for a routine triumph after half an hour of play when Jack Leach angled one into the leg stump and night-

watchman Lakshan Sandakan could only edge the ball to Ben Stokes at slip to depart for seven.

AWKWARD BOUNCE The hosts rallied and Mendis brought up his seventh test fifty as Silva shrugged off occasional discomfort against all-rounder Stokes’ awkward bounce to thwart the England attack.

Leach’s left-arm spin could not separate the duo but his right-handed throw did, the Somerset bowler charging in from backward square leg to throw down the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Mendis short of his ground.

It was a sad end to a stellar innings by the righthander, who hit eight fours and a six in an assured knock.

Leach (4-72) struck again to dismiss Niroshan Dickwella for 19 with Keaton Jennings enhancing his reputation as an exceptional close fielder by taking a smart bat-pad catch, his sixth of the match, at short leg.

Moeen Ali (4-92) dismissed Dilruwan Perera and Silva but Pushpakumara engineered a spirited counter-attack with standin skipper Lakmal, who was the last man out.

Jonny Bairstow was declared man-of-the-match for his innings of 110, but

Yasir Shah takes 8-41 to bowl Kiwis out for 90 (REUTERS) - Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah took 10 New Zealand wickets in Dubai on Monday to leave the Kiwis facing the threat of an innings defeat after day three of the second Test.

Shah took eight first-innings wickets for 41 and added two more after New Zealand were forced to follow on, becoming the first bowler to take 10 wickets in a day since Indian Anil Kumble in 1999.

New Zealand at least showed some fight in their second innings, managing to get to 131 for two to trail Pakistan by 197 runs at stumps and keep the faintest glimmer of hope alive.

New Zealand lead the three-Test series 1-0.

Six batsmen made ducks in the first innings, equalling

Yasir Shah picked up career-best figures of 8 for 41 ©AFP

an unwanted test record as New Zealand collapsed to 90 all out in reply to Pakistan’s 418 for five declared.

New Zealand had reached 50 without loss before the veteran Shah took centre stage to devastating effect.

In one magical Shah over, New Zealand lost three key wickets, with opener Tom Latham (22), Ross Taylor (0) and Henry Nicholls (0) falling to change the course of the match.

That three-wicket maiden was a harbinger of worse to come for the Kiwis, and by the time Shah finished scything his way through their batting order, New Zealand had made their lowest-ever total under captain Kane Williamson.

Williamson was the sole

beacon of hope for New Zealand in that woeful first innings, staying doggedly at the crease while wickets fell all around him and ending on 28 not out.

Shah continued to make inroads when the Kiwis returned for their second innings.

The 32-year-old struck early to have opener Jeet Raval stumped for just two.

The 32-year-old struck early to have opener Jeet Raval stumped for just two and Williamson caught behind for 30, before Taylor and Latham steadied the ship with a 65-run partnership for the third wicket.

New Zealand won the opening Test in Abu Dhabi by four runs. The teams will return to the same venue for the final match from Dec. 3-7.

SRI LANKA 2nd innings Danushka Gunathilaka c Ben Stokes b Moeen Ali 6 Dimuth Karunaratne b Moeen Ali 23 Dhananjaya de Silva lbw Jack Leach 0 Kusal Mendis Run Out Jack Leach 86 Angelo Mathews c Stuart Broad b Ben Stokes 5 Lakshan Sandakan c Ben Stokes b Jack Leach 7 Roshen Silva lbw Moeen Ali 65 Niroshan Dickwella c Keaton Jennings b Jack Leach 19 Dilruwan Perera c Keaton Jennings b Moeen Ali 5 Suranga Lakmal lbw Jack Leach 11 Malinda Pushpakumara Not Out 42 Extras: 8b 0lb 2nb 0pen 5w 15 Total: (86.4 overs) 284 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-15 Gunathilaka, 2-24 de Silva, 3-34 Karunaratne, 4-52 Mathews, 5-82 Sandakan, 6-184 Mendis, 7-214 Dickwella, 8-225 Perera, 9-226 Silva, 10-284 Lakmal Bowling: Stuart Broad 5 - 0 - 14 - 0 ( 3w), Moeen Ali 26 - 3 - 92 - 4, Jack Leach 28.4 - 4 - 72 - 4, Ben Stokes 8 - 1 - 25 - 1 (2w 1nb), Adil Rashid 19 - 1 - 73 - 0 (1nb)

Ben Foakes may continue as wicketkeeper after being adjudged man-of-the-series for his impressive batting and neat glove work in an impressive international bow.

England triumphed won the first match in Galle to end a 13-match winless streak in overseas tests and triumphed

in Pallekele to take an unassailable 2-0 lead, ending the side’s 17-year wait for a test series victory in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka sacked their selection committee on Sunday and replaced them with a new panel headed by former test player Asantha de Mel.

SCOREBOARD PAKISTAN Ist innings 418 for 5 declared...

New Zealand 1st innings o/n24-0 Jeet Raval b Yasir Shah 31 Tom Latham c Imam ul-Haq b Yasir Shah 22 Kane Williamson Not Out 28 Ross Taylor b Yasir Shah 0 Henry Nicholls b Yasir Shah 0 BJ Watling Run Out Hasan Ali 1 Colin de Grandhomme lbw Hasan Ali 0 Ish Sodhi c Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 0 Neil Wagner lbw Yasir Shah 0 Ajaz Patel lbw Yasir Shah 4 Trent Boult st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 0 Extras: 0b 3lb 1nb 0pen 0w 4 Total: (35.3 overs) 90 all out Fall of Wickets : 1-50 Raval, 2-61 Latham, 3-61 Taylor, 4-61 Nicholls, 5-63 Watling, 6-69 de Grandhomme, 7-72 Sodhi, 8-72 Wagner, 9-90 Patel, 10-90 Boult Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 9 - 4 - 18 - 0 (1nb), Hasan Ali 10-5-25-1, Mohammad Hafeez 2-1-1-0, Yasir Shah 12.3-1-41-8, Bilal Asif 2-1-2-0. .....................................................

New Zealand 2nd innings Jeet Raval st Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 2 Tom Latham Not Out 44 Kane Williamson c Sarfraz Ahmed b Yasir Shah 30 Ross Taylor Not Out 49 Extras: 4b 2lb 0nb 0pen 0w 6 Total: (43.0 overs) 131-2 Fall of Wickets : 1-10 Raval, 2-66 Williamson To Bat : Nicholls, Watling, de Grandhomme, Sodhi, Wagner, Patel, Boult Bowling: Mohammad Abbas 4-1-11-0, Hasan Ali 5-3-5- 0, Yasir Shah 15-2-65-2 Mohammad Hafeez 3 1 6 0 2.00

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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

FROM BACK PAGE

Argentina pushes anti soccer North hooligan bill after Boca-River melee Georgetown defend...

By Hugh Bronstein

BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Argentina’s president on Monday called for Congress to pass a bill in special session that would crack down on soccer hooliganism after a weekend melee derailed the final leg of the region’s main club tournament.

President Mauricio Macri wants a law that would more severely punish the kind of violence that over the weekend shut down the second leg of the Copa Libertadores soccer final between River Plate and Boca Juniors.

The riot was especially embarrassing to the country as it prepares to host a summit of the G20 bloc of nations on Friday.

A visibly angry Macri went on television to denounce criminal soccer fan organizations, called ‘Barras Bravas’, that are known for dealing drugs, extorting rank-and-file fans and demanding protection money from small businesses located near stadiums.

“We reject the mafias that are often behind this type of violence,” Macri said. “I hope that after this embar-

River Plate’s fans clash with riot police after the Copa Libertadores Final, Second leg v Boca Juniors match was postponed. Buenos Aires, Argentina - November 24, 2018REUTERS/Alberto Raggio/File Photo

rassment, we can get a law passed in extra sessions of Congress.”

Security Minister Patricia Bullrich said the law would stiffen penalties against violence related to soccer matches.

The decisive leg of the tournament had been set to be played on Saturday, but was suspended until Sunday after Boca players were injured when their bus was attacked

by River fans outside Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires.

Some of Boca’s players had not sufficiently recovered

by Sunday, so the game was

again postponed. The heads of both clubs were expected to meet on Tuesday to decide when to reschedule.

Macri said the incident was particularly “sad and frustrating” because it happened five days ahead of a meeting of the G20 bloc of industrialized nations in Buenos Aires, which he has touted as part of the country’s effort at attracting foreign investment despite its high rate of inflation and recession.

He also said he was incensed that the 23 people arrested in Saturday’s melee had already been set free. He

said this showed the need for tougher laws against soccer hooligans. “The people are free. I don’t understand. I don’t understand in the name of all Argentines,” Macri said in a raised voice. “I don’t understand the reaction of the justice system.”

The Copa Libertadores is South America’s equivalent of Europe’s Champion’s League. This year marked the first time Argentina’s two biggest clubs had met for the title. The cross town showdown had been billed as the greatest final in the competition’s 58-year history.

Anna Regina ‘B’ and Aurora win in Ramballi and Mahadeo Under-17 cricket ANNA Regina Secondary School ‘B’ and the Aurora Secondary School earned their first points on Saturday in the latest round of the Ramballi and Mahadeo inter secondary school Under -17 cricket competition played on the Essequibo Coast.

At the Number 1 ground in Affiance, Anna Regina ‘B’ inflicted a massive 116run defeat against Johanna Cecilia Secondary. Batting first after being sent in, Anna Regina ‘B’ recovered from a precarious start to reach 164-8 from 25 overs after the game was reduced by 5 overs due to a late start.

They were led by a fine half- century from Renard Ramroop who made 53 (6x4s and 1x6s) and Renaldo Baharally supporting with 28 (3x4s). Off-spinner Govinda Tulsie with 3-22 from 5 overs and Chateram Suerattan 2-17

Alex Ally (L) and Renard Ramroop star with bat and ball for Anna Regina Secondary.

from 5 overs were the main wicket takers. In reply, Johanna Cecilia crumbled and were all-out for 48 in 13 overs with only Randy Ragubir with 17 reaching double figures. Excellent fast-swing bowling from Alex Ally with 4-8 from 4 overs and Aryan Doodnauth 2-12 from 2 overs ensured their school earned their first win in the competition.

At the same venue, Au-

rora Secondary tamed Abram Zuil Secondary to secure a 6-wicket win. Batting first, Abram Zuil were bundled out for 93 in 24 overs with Dharindra Narine topscoring with 32 (4x4s) while Imtiaz Ally supported with 21 (3x4s). Off-spinner Odel Paterson’s flight and turn earned him figures of 5-8 from 4 overs while Sachin Dadolall claimed 3-17 from 5 overs.

In reply, Aurora Secondary,

Odel Paterson of Aurora Secondary took 5 for 8.

despite the intervention of rain which caused the runs and overs to be reduced, reached the revised target of 76-4 in 14 overs with Mahindra Basdeo 24 (3x4s) and Rafeek Mohamed 18 (2x4s) guiding the run-chase for a comfortable win.

T h e n e x t ro u n d o f matches will be played at the Imam Bacchus and Number 1 ground respectively.

East Georgetown finished third with 213 points, followed

by Cuyuni-Mazaruni (189), South Georgetown (173), Rupununi (132), Essequibo Coast and Pomeroon (127), North West (107), East Coast District (63), Essequibo Islands/West Demerara (57), East Bank Demerara (45), West Berbice (9), Mahdia (8), Corentyne (7) and New Amsterdam (5).

The measure of North’s dominance was on display in the 200M freestyle relays, which they dominated.

The females exploded with an over 12-second win, while the males won by over five seconds.

In the female battle, the team of Amber DeGoeas, Monique Watson, Patrice Mahaica and anchor Amy Grant stormed to victory in 2:06.38, while East Georgetown finished second in 2:20.47 anchored by 12-year-old sensation, Aleka Persaud. Upper Demerara-Kwakwani were third in 2:27.97, with South Georgetown fourth.

The male team of Fitzroy Thom, Jonathan Sookram, Telford George and anchor Leon Seaton pushed the team to victory in 1:49.50. East Georgetown finished second in a time of 1:56.28, with Upper Demerara-Kwakwani again placing third (1:57.59s).

A number of swimmers excelled in the individual events, including Seaton, George, Amy Grant, Latisha Blair from South Georgetown, and Nikhil Persaud from North Georgetown, who all won three individual races. Other swimmers such as Aleka Persaud from East Georgetown, Noel Raekwon from East Coast, Jasmin Allen from North Georgetown and Coleen Stephen from the Rupununi also performed well.

Aleka Persaud proved her superiority when she swam the 50M freestyle in 28.68s. The 12-year-old won in a faster time than the 16 and Under Girls’ winner, Latisha Blair (31.05s) and the 18 and Under Girls’ winner, Amy Grant (30.85s).

Manager of the North Georgetown team, Tiffani Hinds, credited the support of the parents of the athletes and the schools for their success.

She said that most of the athletes were from swimming clubs and it showed with their performances.

There were a lot of improvements by some of the non-traditional winners, including the Rupununi, which finished with their best performance to date.

As in previous years, the non-club swimmers again had problems with the turns in the pool, which slowed down their timings.

29

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Windies Women’s team set for first England tour in more than a decade ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – West Indies will look to build on their exploits during the recent ICC Women’s Twenty20 World Cup when they tour England next year for a sixmatch limited overs series at several major country venues.

On Monday, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the itinerary for the much anticipated tour, which will run from June 6-25. The two teams will contest three T20 Internationals and three One-Day Internationals, the latter of which will form part of the ICC Women’s Championship – the qualification criteria for the 2021 50-overs World Cup. The Windies last toured England for a bilateral series 11 years ago when the now-retired Nadine George captained a side which

included the teenaged pair of Stafanie Taylor and Deandra Dottin.

Taylor, now captain, said the Windies would be up for the challenge when they renew their rivalry with the hosts. “It’s great that we’re having this tour of England. This will form a major be part of our overall development and we believe we can play well in English conditions,” Taylor said.

“We had a great ICC Women’s World T20 at home, so this tour will be good for players as we aim to improve and individuals and get better as a team.”

She continued: “The trip is a little while off but it’s something we’re really looking forward to. England is a wonderful place

West Indies and England … will renew their rivalry in a six-match limited overs series.

to play cricket, and I know the girls will enjoy their tour. They have a strong team, so we know it will be a challenge tour, but we are confident of success.”

West Indies beat England in the final group stage match in the recent

GuyanaNRA/Smallbore/Print For Less .22 Precision Pistol C/ship

Joshua Ramlakan (Senior), Rawatte Shiwdin (Junior) emerge victors

372 points and 11Vs. The 3rd place went to Chad Melville (365/5); 4th was GuyanaNRA Smallbore Vice-captain, Dale Richards (353/6), with the 5th place being occupied by Jermaine Softleigh who tallied the same points as Richards but lost out on Vs as he only mustered 3.

Ruling the roost in the Junior category Junior winner Rawatte Shiwdin receives her medal which was shot at the from GuyanaNRA Smallbore captain, Dale Hing.

7, 10 and 15m ranges WHEN the Guyana National Rifle was Rawatte Shiwdin Association (GuyanaNRA) Small- whose precision allowed her to tally bore section brought off the Print 277 points as well as 6 Vs. ClaimFor Less-sponsored .22 Precision ing the second place was Jason Cox Pistol Championship on Saturday (264/5), Satya Dayaram was 3rd last at the Guyana Police Force Tac- (240/3) followed by Clayton Charles tical Services Unit range, Eve Leary, (237/1) and Royland Fraser (226/0) Joshua Ramlakan shot his way to the closing out the top five positions. senior title while Rawatte Shiwdin Next on the Smallbore section was too good for her male rivals in agenda would be an Action Pistol the junior category showdown. event on Sunday at the Timehri RiRamlakan, shooting at 7, 10, 15, fle Ranges, Yarrowkabra, Linden/ 20 and 25m, tallied 379 points and Soesdyke Highway. The top five 11Vs to win by a 7 point margin from senior and junior shooters will be Surujbali Persaud who accumulated rewarded.

T20 World Cup before losing their semi-final to Australia in Antigua, to bow out of the tournament.

The English, however, recovered from that defeat to reach the final of the tournament, which they

cricket for the growing fan base for the women’s game,” she said. The two teams last met in the Caribbean two years ago in a five-match ODI series when England prevailed 3-2.

lost to the Aussies on Saturday night.

England are the reigning 50-overs World Cup champions following their triumph at home last summer.

West Indies will be one of two teams touring England as Australia will also take on the hosts in all three formats in the “Women’s Ashes”, and director of England Women’s Cricket, Clare Connor, said she was thrilled by the prospect of both tours.

“As we have just seen in front of record crowds at the ICC Women’s World T20 in West Indies, both West Indies and Australia will be sure to provide a great challenge for us as well as skillful, entertaining

ITINERARY Thursday June 6 1st ODI: Fischer County Ground, Leicester Sunday June 9 2nd ODI: Blackfinch New Road, Worcester Thursday June 13 3rd ODI: Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford Tuesday June 18 1st T20: The County Ground, Northampton Friday June 21 2nd T20: The County Ground, Northampton Tuesday June 25 3rd T20: County Ground, Derby

EBFA/Ralph Green U-11 League

Top four maintain positions; Mocha register first win … Aaliyah Boston is first female to score GROVE Hi Tech, Agricola Red Triangle, Timehri Panthers and Swan FC have all maintained their positions at the top of the table following the latest round of action in the East Bank Football Association / Ralph Green Under-11 League which continued on Saturday last at the Diamond Community Centre ground with all 12 clubs in action.

Sealing a place in the tournament’s history this year was young Aaliyah Boston of Swan who netted the first goal of their 6-0 win over Friendship All Stars; it was the first goal scored by a female in this league, with other clubs having young females playing for them also. Following four previous losses, Mocha Champs finally notched their first win and did so emphatically, thumping Herstelling Raiders 9-0 on account of hat-tricks from Matthew Forte (3rd, 23rd, 27th) and Jahem Lewis who rocked the nets in the 4th, 9th and 13th minutes.

There was a double for Kwesi Kelly in the 7th and 19th minutes with the other goal being an own goal scored by Kai James of Herstelling in the 22nd minute.

Timehri Panthers were again

in dismissive mood in their 7-2 clipping of Hauraruni Eagles.

Omar Sam led the victory with a helmet-trick, finding the back of the nets in the 17th, 18th, 29th and 30th minutes. Teammate Shaquele Caleb tucked in the three other goals in the 4th, 19th and 21st minutes.

Hauraruni Eagles scored two of their own, thanks to Josiah Ross in the 8th and 25th minutes.

Aaliyah Boston set the scoring train in motion for Swan as they recorded their fourth win in five matches.

Boston found the back of the nets in the 11th minute after which the team’s leading marksman, Anderson Webber, took over to score the next five goals in another clinical display; he was on target in the 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd and Latest Points Table # Team 1 Grove Hi Tech 2 Agricola Red Triangle 3 Timehri Panthers 4 Swan FC 5 Diamond Upsetters 6 Samatta Point KV 7 Diamond United 8 Friendship All Stars 9 Mocha Champs 10 Kuru Kururu Warriors 5 11 Hararuni Eagles 12 Herstelling Raiders

P

6 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 5 1 5 5

W 5 5 4 4 3 2 1 1 1 4 1 1

26th minutes.

Agricola, currently in second place and one of two undefeated clubs and the only club yet to concede a goal, inked their fifth win in as many matches-- a 3-0 triumph over Diamond United. Their captain, Jonathan Andries, led by example, notching in all three goals in the 8th, 10th and 25th minutes.

Grove Hi Tech, the other undefeated team, got past Diamond Upsetters 2-0; both goals scored

by Jamal Cordis in the 3rd and 5th minutes.

Samatta Point/Kaneville won via a similar margin over Kuru Kururu Warriors with the goals coming from Sherlon Hetmyer in the 6th minute and Jamal Farley in the 19th minute. Matches will continue on Saturday at the same venue.

L

0 0 1 1 2 3 3 4 4 0 4 4

D 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 3 0 0

GF GA GD Points 19 3 +16 16 22 0 +22 15 16 5 +21 12 25 4 +11 12 9 4 +5 9 4 24 -18 6 8 11 -3 4 9 19 -10 4 9 8 +1 3 15 -12 3 4 19 -15 3 3 24 -21 3

30

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Region proud of women despite World Cup disappointment: WICB boss ST JOHN’S, Antigua, (CMC) – Cricket West Indies (CWI) president, Dave Cameron, said West Indies women remained a source of pride for the region, despite their failure to successfully defend their ICC Twenty20 World Cup title.

West Indies played unbeaten on the preliminary round but were eliminated at the semi-final stage when they suffered a heavy 71-run defeat to eventual champions Australia.

“Despite the Windies Women’s loss in the semi-finals, we are extremely proud of the way the women displayed strength of character and were a joy to watch in the field for every single game,” Cameron said.

“From all the feedback

I have received, the entire Caribbean is proud of the ladies.”

A u s t r a l i a c a p t u re d their fourth title when they beat England by eight wickets in last Saturday’s final at the Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium here.

The tournament, the first ICC stand-alone women’s T20 event, was marked by large attendances, especially for the Windies games.

The hosts’ final preliminary match against England in Gros Islet attracted in excess of 10 000 while their semi-final was a sell-out.

Overall, the tournament was smoothly executed, drawing praise on Sunday from the ICC chief executive, Dave Richardson.

Glum faces in the West Indies women’s camp as the team slide to defeat in the first semi-final against Australia.

And Cameron also took note of the efficient manner in which the event had been run by the Local Organising Committee.

“We have shown the world our abilities as a cricketing destination on and off the field of play,” said the Windies cricket chief.

“On behalf of the entire CWI Team, I want to congratulate all the people (operations, technical, marketing, commercial, facilities, security) who participated in the championship, making it the success it has turned out to be.

“We also acknowledge and accept the praises from the International Cricket Council (ICC).”

Hamilton Green football...

Sizzling action anticipated as teams battle for final spots - Den Amstel venue for looming confrontations

Lingfield 08:30 hrs El Kaldoun 09:00 hrs Clondaw Anchor 09:30 hrs Top And Drop 10:00 hrs Oxford Blu 10:30 hrs Diplomate Sivola 11:00 hrs Duhallow Gesture 11:30 hrs Belle Amis South Africa Racing Tips Vaal 08:20 hrs Choir Singer 08:55 hrs Master Boulder 09:35 hrs Greenwood Drive 10:15 hrs Billy Silver 10:50 hrs Cumberland 11:25 hrs Colombina

Sedgefield 08:20 hrs Show’s Over 08:50 hrs Patience Tony 09:20 hrs Millie The Minx 10:20 hrs Theatre Legend 10:50 hrs Tayzar 11:20 hrs Court Jurado

American Racing Tips Finger Lakes Race 1 Seeking Payment Race 2 Jacqueline D Race 3 Once Is Forever Race 4 Scatback Race 5 Mom’s Law Race 6 Debutant Girl Race 7 Crazy Love Race 8 Dearie Race 9 My Tommy Boy

English Racing Tips Southwell 08:10 hrs Glasgon 08:40 hrs Princess Harley 09:10 hrs Little Choosey 09:40 hrs Astraea 10:10 hrs Times Past 10:40 hrs Kingi Compton 11:10 hrs Vow Of Presence 11:40 hrs Port Soif

THE figh t to see w ho will be left standing for a chance to grab a slice of the $700,000-plus prize money on offer begins in earnest tomorrow night when play in this year’s Hamilton Green 9-a-side Inter-Ward/ Village KO Cup resumes at the Den Amstel Community Centre ground.

Eight exciting matches will highlight the penul-

timate day of action with home team, Den Amstel, set to headline the proceedings when they clash with Soesdyke in the final game of the night.

Coordinator Lennox Arthur, commenting on the tournament to date, said it has gone well and he expects another night of lively action as teams attempt to position themselves to be in the fray for the finals set for Sunday, December 2, at the same venue.

“Fans are certain to get

CRICKET QUIZ CORNER (Tuesday November 27, 2018) COMPLIMENTS OF THE TROPHY STALL Bourda Market & The City Mall (Tel: 225-9230) & Cummings Electrical Company Ltd. 83 Garnett Street, Campbellville, Georgetown (Tel: 225-6158) Answers to Tuesday’s quiz: (1) Pedro Collins - 5/26 (Dhaka, 2002) (2) Mahmudullah - 5/51 (St. Vincent, 2009) Today’s Quiz: (1) What was the result of the first Test of the current WI/Bangladesh series?

(2) Who are the current ICC Women's T20 World Cup Champions?

Answer in tomorrow's issue

their monies worth, judging from the quality of teams left in the competition and predicting who will survive tonight’s round is causing headaches among the pundits,” Arthur related.

In the opening encounter at 18:00hrs, Zeelugt tackle Charlestown and many feel that this game is the perfect start for the night’s proceedings.

This clash will be followed by the game between Sophia and Central MacKenzie, before Mahaica and Mahaicony square off for a place in the next round, and also bragging rights.

Goed Fortuin will then clash with Wales, before Crane and Sarah Lodge take to the field for their matchup.

West Demerara’s Pouderoyen will then look to repel the challenge of the visiting Newtown Kitty, before another team from the West Coast—Uitvlugt-- face Timehri.

In the final game of the evening, hosts Den Amstel will entertain East Bank’s Soesdyke with the home support anticipated to be loud, especially with a spot for the finals at stake.

The coveted first prize of $400,000 and the championship trophy, compliments of the Ministry of Citizenship, must be the focus of all the teams remaining in the competition.

The runner-up will be awarded $200,000 and a trophy through the goodwill of John Fernandes Ltd, while third and fourth place finishers will receive $60,000 and $40,000 respectively, along with the Techno Mills and Courtney Benn Construction Services trophies.

Top finishers will receive hampers, compliments of Ricks & Sari Industries, while the highest goal-scorer will walk away with a Lazy Boy Chair, courtesy of A.H&L Kissoon and a Dinette Set, compliments of China Trading.

T h e M o s t Va l u a b l e Player will be awarded a special prize from Techno Mills.Among the other sponsors on board are: IPA, Alfro Alphonso, Sattaur Gafoor, Ansa McAl, Top Brandz Distributors, MACORP, Starr Computers, Cummings Electrical, Ready Mix, BK International and New Thriving Restaurant.

31

GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday, November 27, 2018

GFF/Greenfields begin laying of artificial turf at Football Stadium THE state-of-the-art artificial turf is currently being laid at the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) National Training Centre which will be the country’s first ‘home’ for football.

According to a release from the GFF, the process which begun last Friday, is being done by local contractor, Nabi Construction Inc., under the supervision of international contractor, Greenfields, and is projected to be completed by December 15.

The facility, the GFF stated, will be the focal point for football activity at all levels of the game, and will play a pivotal role in elevating the standard of Guyana’s football, as it caters for football development among the males and females.

The venue will be equipped with female ame-

nities to encourage greater female participation and will house the headquarters of the GFF. Other aspects of the facility will include dormitories, kitchen services, a gym and a pool.

In an invited comment, GFF president Wayne Forde said he is pleased with the progress of work being done, while adding that “the weather has been good and work is progressing very well.”

“The transfer of knowledge that is taking place during this phase of the project will be invaluable as we embark on the construction of similar fields in each of our nine (9) Regional Member Associations (RMAs) over the next three years,” Forde noted.

The vision of the Federation is for the eventual construction of all-weath-

Forde eyes December 15 for completion

Chronicle Sport photographer Samuel Maughn visited the GFF’s National Training Centre to capture the ‘laying of the green’.

er facilities in each of the 9 RMA. In a recent exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport, Forde said that “FIFA and Greenfields want us to use the turf as much as possible, so we will organise for the teams preparing for the yearend tournament to have some of their training sessions there.”

Forde explained that apart from the laying of the

turf, the first phase will also see the installation of temporary flood lights, since the facility will be integral in the GFF’s plans in 2019 for their national youth programmes.

The GFF’s National Training Centre is the first of its kind under the FIFA Forward Project, formerly the FIFA Goal Project, which will seek to produce, among others, consistent levels of

highly competitive and exciting football that will be a force to be reckoned with regionally and on the international scene.

Works on the long-awaited ‘FIFA Forward Programme’ at Providence commenced last September after finally getting the confirmation of the lease of the land earmarked for the facility and subsequent approval by the Fédération Internationale de

Football Association (FIFA) in June 2017.

During the tenure of the Clinton Urling-led Normalisation Committee (NC), the GFF on May 9, 2015, signed a 30-year lease with the Eccles/Ramsburg Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) for the 8.5acre Providence Community Centre ground on the East Bank of Demerara.

(Rawle Toney)

ICC bids for Women’s T20 in Rhodes defends pitch, hails aggressive Hetmyer Birmingham Commonwealth Games DUBAI (Reuters) - The International Cricket Council (ICC) has submitted a bid for the inclusion of women’s Twenty20 in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the governing body said on Monday.

Cricket has not featured in the quadrennial Games since its maiden appearance in 1998 when the South African men’s team won the gold medal in Kuala Lumpur.

“Cricket and the Commonwealth are inextricably linked and almost perfectly aligned with 910 million of cricket’s one billion plus adult fans from Commonwealth countries,” ICC chief executive David Richardson said in a statement.

“Creating a new partnership between women’s cricket and the Commonwealth Games demonstrates the commitment both organisations have to growing women’s sport...”

Birmingham is the per-

West Indies. “It’s exciting to think that cricket could potentially feature at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham,” CA chief executive Kevin Roberts said in a statement.

“We are committed to cricket being a sport of choice for women and girls in Australia, and with the ICC T20 World ICC chief executive Cup in our backyard officer Dave Richardson in 2020, we know the fect place to launch this popularity of the wompartnership as 23 percent en’s game will continue of its residents have links to rise in the coming to cricket-playing nations years,” he said.

Cricket, which has outside the United Kingstruggled to grow beyond dom, Richardson said.

“If cricket were to be its traditional bases, was staged in these Games, last played at the Olymwe know every team pics in the 1900 Paris competing would be Games.

The ICC has been guaranteed ‘home’ support. There’s a ready- pushing for the game’s m a d e a u d i e n c e a n d Olympic return with the ready-made infrastruc- 20-over format but the ture in the local vicinity,” powerful Indian board has not been very keen he added.

Cricket Australia (CA) on it, fearing it might were quick to support the lose its autonomy and be bid two days after their answerable to the counwomen’s team won the try’s Olympic commitWorld Twenty20 crown in tee.

CHITTAGONG, Bangladesh, (CMC) – Bangladesh coach Steve Rhodes has defended the turning pitch in last week’s opening Test against West Indies, contending that the varying types of tracks around the world helped maintain the “intrigue” of Test cricket.

Spinners grabbed 34 of the 40 wickets to fall at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium as West Indies plunged to a shock 64-run defeat inside three days – their first ever loss on Bangladeshi soil.

Set 204 to win, West Indies were bundled out for 139 in 35.2 overs, with left-arm spinner Taijul Islam snapping up six wickets.

Rhodes said the first Test scenario was no different to the conditions Bangladesh faced on their tour of the Caribbean earlier this year, when they were bundled out for a record low 43 on the first day, in seam-friendly conditions.

“I think in the subcontinent you come to expect turning wickets, so it is no surprise. It is a turning wicket in Colombo where a Test match is going on between England and Sri Lanka,”

Rhodes pointed out, in reference to the third Test which ended Monday.

“It is just a different type of wicket. I take you back to the Antigua Test where we played on very alien conditions: green and bouncy; a swinging Duke ball which nipped around a lot. It was very different.

He added: “I think that’s the beauty of playing around the world. There’s lots of different ways of playing this wonderful game. Coming to Bangladesh and playing on different wickets did make [for] some intriguing cricket.

“When you feel a little bit worried about getting out [on a turning pitch], you tend to play in a manner that is a little bit counter-attacking.

“Sometimes that looks like rash batting for Test cricket. But it is the pressure that you are being put under and you’re trying to make that bowler not bowl as well. You counterattack a little bit.” To further underscore his point, Rhodes was quick to praise 21-year-old Shimron Hetmyer who was perhaps the best Windies batsman on show.

T h e a g g re s s i v e l e f t -

hander counter-attacked the Bangladesh spinners in both innings, smashing 63 from 47 balls in the first innings and 27 from 19 deliveries in the second.

“I thought Hetmyer’s innings was very interesting. He counterattacked us,” Rhodes noted. “I was so glad to see him gone in the second innings. He could have caused danger if he lasted an hour.”

West Indies face Bangladesh in the second and final Test starting Friday in Dhaka, with the prospect of another turner being prepared for the contest.

And despite his side’s struggles away from home, Rhodes said a series sweep on home soil would be a major boost.

“We just have to make sure we are ready to play away from home. It is something that I am conscious of.

But take nothing away from what happened [last week], it is a really good win against West Indies,” he said.

“I am very respectful of them as cricketers. They will come back hard in the next Test. We need to be ready for that. I want to win 2-0.”

North Georgetown retained their title with a lot of overall victories. (Faizool Deo Photos)

Jasmin Allen swam well for North Georgetown in the Girls’ 10 and Under division.

North Georgetown defend swimming title at ‘Nationals’ ..-Win over half of the events at National Aquatic Centre

By Faizool Deo NORTH GEORGETOWN defended their swimming title in fine style yesterday by winning over half of the 54 events carded, to keep their dominance in the pool leg of the National Schools Cycling, Swimming and Track and Field Championships in tack.

At the end of a packed day of competition,

the multiple-time champions had amassed 434 points from 27 first place finishes.

Their main rivals, Upper Demerara-Kwakwani were again second, but the battle was not fierce. The District 10 team finished with 319 points from six overall wins. Although they did not accumulate as many victories, they were able to gather crucial points within many of the events.

Turn to page 28

Some of the dominant swimmers (from left) Fitzroy Thom, Leon Seaton, Aleka Persaud, George Telford and Nikhil Ramnarine.

Nationals 2018

District 6 staves off District 10 to narrowly retain Cycling Title

See Page 26

District 10’s Abigail Jeffrey, who won the Girls 25Km Road Race on Sunday, added two Gold medals and a Silver yesterday at the Cycling Championships in the National Park.

District 6’s (Corentyne) Shabina Ramoo crosses the finish line to cop Gold in the 2000 Metres Girls U-16 race to help her district retain their Cycling title.

Oneal Rose was one of the top performers for District 10 (Upper Demerara/Kwakwani) copping three Gold medals.

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2018